Restoration of Radiation Damage in Rat Thymocytes by Adenine

Summary

5 mM or 10 mM of adenine, added exogenously to rat thymocytes after x-irradiation with 8 kR, restored the ATP-content of irradiated cells to normal level and reduced radiation cell death. 1 mM of adenine was ineffective. When added to cells at later time after irradiation, adenine became less effective. Adenine also increased oxygen uptake by irradiated thymocytes and decreased degradation of adenine nucleotides to hypoxanthine.