Cyanide Protection against X-Irradiation

Abstract

Mice, 4-6 months old, and weighing about 30 g., were irradiated at a rate of 30 r/ min. until a total of 500-600 total body r had been applied. All 42 controls thus irradiated died between the 4th and 9th postir-radiation day; animals receiving 0.1 mg. of NaCN just before radiation showed 50-80% survival; injn. of same amt. of NaCN immediately after irradiation merely delayed the mortality. NaSCN had no effect, or shortened survival of irradiated mice. Possible mechanisms of cyanide action are reduction of disulfide bonds to sulfhydryl groups, general reduction of metabolic activity, or inactivation of heavy metal enzymes responsible for the destruction of H2O2.