Radioprotective Effect of Heparin

Abstract

The study was aimed at the experimental assessment of the efficacy of heparin as radioprotector in condition of acute whole body γ-ray irradiation. The efficacy of the product was based on the 30-day survival rate and average life expectancy of dead irradiated animals. To reveal possible mechanisms of radioprotective effects of heparin the thymus mass, the number of leukocytes and colony formation units (CFU) in the peripheral blood and bone marrow were studied. It was shown that radioprotective effect of heparin administered intraperitoneally in a dose of 250 unit/kg was developed within one day after the administration and maintained for periods up to 30 days. Heparin increased the survival rate only in radiosensitive BALB/c and inbred mice. The product exerted stimulating effects on the migration of haemopoietic cells: injection of heparin doubled the number of CFU in the peripheral blood of BALB/c mice and reliably reduced it in the bone marrow.