Gamma-tocotrienol as a radiation countermeasure drug: Comparison with alpha-tocopherol

摘要

Since antioxidants are known to be radioprotective, we compared the efficacy of gamma-tocotrienol (GT3) with alpha-tocopherol (AT). The aim of the present study was to test if GT3 is a better radioprotectant than AT in mice given subcutaneously 24 h before gamma radiation.Survival efficacy was determined by comparing percent survival of CD2F1 mice subcutaneously injected with AT and GT3 at different doses (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) 24 h before radiation at 9.5, 10.5, 11 and 11.5 Gy. Protection from radiation-induced pancytopenia was determined by enumerating peripheral blood cells from GT3 and AT treated mice irradiated at 7 and 8.5 Gy. Both GT3 and AT accelerated recovery of white blood cells, neutrophils, and platelets in irradiated mice compared to vehicle-injected irradiated controls.These results demonstrate that GT3 is a better radioprotectant than AT in lethally irradiated mice.