Effect of Pretreatment with Cysteamine on γ-Radiation-Induced Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Mouse Bone Marrow Cells in Vivo

Abstract
The effect of pretreatment with cysteamine on .gamma.-radiation-induced sister chromatide exchanges (SCEs) and on the mitotic index and average generation time was determined. Groups of mice were treated in one of the following regimens: (1) irradiated, (2) treated with cysteamine and irradiated, (3) treated with cysteamine only, or (4) left untreated. Intraperitoneal administration of cysteamine preceding .gamma.-radiation exposure protected against SCE induction. However, radioprotection was not reflected by change in the mitotic index or in the average generation time. The results suggest that, under the experimental conditions of this study, the SCEs are caused by free radicals produced by .gamma. radiation, but not the additional damage indices measured.

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