Role of Mercaptoethylamine in Repeated Monthly Exposures to Gamma-Radiation in Mice

Abstract

THE beneficial effect of administering mercaptoethylamine (MEA) to mice prior to a single acute exposure to X- or γ-radiation as reported by Bacq et al.¹ has been demonstrated repeatedly in other laboratories. Daily administration of MEA or other protective amino-alkylthiols to reduce the biological damage due to daily radiation exposure has not been successful² and may even be harmful³. The role of such compounds in reducing damage to repeated radiation exposures once recovery is virtually complete has not been explored. The experiment reported here was designed to determine how often mice could be challenged by a large exposure to radiation with adequate MEA administered before each such exposure. A period of 30–32 days between exposures was selected as the time by which recovery from acute damage would be complete.