PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AMIFOSTINE IN PREVENTING HAEMORRHAGIC DIATHESIS IN LETHALLY IRRADIATED SWINE

The present study examined the protective effect of radioprotector amifostine (aminopropil-aminoethil-tiophosphate) in lethally irradiated swine. Its application in a tolerant dose of 150 mg/kg i.m. 30 minutes prior to irradiation prevents the emergence of radiation-induced haemorrhagic diathesis. All the irradiated animals protected by amifostine have survived a 30-day experimental period. Patomorpohological and patohistological changes in the bone marrow, microcirculation and the small intestine were descibed both in the unprotected and the amifostine-protected swine. No pathological changes in the bone marrow or the microcirculation of protected animals were reported while only the signs of mild catarrhal inflammation in the intestine were noted following lethal irradiation of the unprotected animals. The dose of 150 mg/kg of amifostine causes profuse vomiting and the transient increase in the number of leucocytes and erytrocytes within 24 hours. Based on the results obtained in experiments and the references found in the relevant literature it can be concluded that amifostine is a very effective radioprotective agent even when applied in heavy- biomass animals. Key words: radiation, protection, swine, amifostine