Noncytokinetic radiation injury: anticoagulants as radioprotective agents in experimental radiation hepatitis.

ABSTRACT

Rats that have been irradiated with a single dose of 1500 roentgens directed to the liver show the following abnormalities increased clearance of colloidal gold by the liver at 30 days, a decreased albumin space index at 30 days, and increased alkaline phosphatase at 60 days. In each of these cases, animals receiving Depo-heparin in dose ranges reasonable for human application had essentially normal values. There was no radioprotective effect with salicylates at the doses used. Higher doses of salicylates resulted in death of the animals.