In vivo radioprotection of mouse bone marrow: protection from apoptotic death by WR-2721

ABSTRACT

Apoptotic cell death is an important phenomenon in radiation bone marrow injury and the compound WR-2721 can protect hematopoietic tissue against such injury. In this study, we assessed the ability of WR-2721 to prevent radiation-induced apoptosis in bone marrow cells. Femoral bone marrow from C57BL male mice was used. The marrow was studied 4 h, 12 h, 24 h and 10 days after a single whole-body radiation dose of 7 Gy. Mice which received WR-2721 (400 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before irradiation were compared with unprotected mice. Less injury and a significant reduction in the number of apoptotic cells were observed 4 h (49.6 per cent less) and 12 h (40.8 per cent less) after irradiation in the group that received WR-2721 compared to the unprotected mice. An earlier than expected recovery was also observed 10 days after irradiation in the protected group. This is the first study in vivo to report the protection by WR-2721 of bone marrow cells from apoptosis following exposure to radiation.