Protective Effects of Interferon in Mice Previously Exposed to Lethal Irradiation

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Abstract
The radioprotective action of interferon (IF) in increasing the survival time of mice lethally irradiated 24 h previously was evaluated. A single i.p. injection of 30,000 units of IF administered 1 day following a LD100 dose of irradiation significantly prolonged the mean survival time of the animals. Multiple inoculations of IF given 1, 3 and 5 days after irradiation only slightly increased the survival time over mice receiving single injections. Marked decreases in total number of splenocytes were observed in irradiated mice as well as in the mice receiving postirradiation IF therapy. Total peripheral white blood cell counts were not appreciably changed when evaluated 3 days after X irradiation. Natural lymphocyte killer activity of splenocytes from irradiated animals receiving IF was significantly increased. The protective action of IF could be partially attributable to the boosting of some depressed immune functions.

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