Abstract:
Objective To explore the radiation protection of disulfiram (DSF) derivatives in mice.
Methods Two DSF derivatives (DSF-1 and DSF-2) were synthesized using a two-step synthesis method and tested for radiation protection in mice. In the lethal dose irradiation experiment (7.2 Gy 137Cs γ-ray whole-body irradiation), 50 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=10): control group, lethal dose irradiation (IR1) group, DSF oral administration (DSFi.g.)+IR1 group, DSF-1 oral administration (DSF-1i.g.)+IR1 group, and DSF-2 oral administration (DSF-2i.g.)+IR1 group. Another 40 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=10): control group, IR1 group, DSF intraperitoneal injection (DSFi.p.)+IR1 group, and DSF-2 intraperitoneal injection (DSF-2i.p.)+IR1 group. Survival rates and protective index were calculated for each group. In the sublethal dose irradiation experiment (6.0 Gy 137Cs γ-ray whole-body irradiation), 24 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=6): sublethal irradiation group (IR2), DSFi.g.+IR2 group, DSF-1i.g.+IR2 group, and DSF-2i.g.+IR2 group. Another 18 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=6): IR2 group, DSFi.p.+IR2 group, and DSF-2i.p.+IR2 group. Organ index, hematopoietic, immune system, and antioxidant damage indicators were evaluated. The treatment groups received 50 mg/kg of DSF derivatives, and the control and irradiation groups (IR1 group and IR2 group) received equivalent solvent volumes (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution) for 3 days before irradiation. t-tests were used for comparing data (equal variance), and Kaplan–Meier curves were used for survival rates.
Results DSF-1 and DSF-2 were successfully synthesized and identified. In the lethal dose irradiation experiment, the DSF-1i.g.+IR1 group and DSF-2i.g.+IR1 group showed 50% increase in the 30-day survival rate compared with the IR1 group, with statistically significant differences (22.0±8.7) d vs. (9.9±2.0) d, (22.0±8.5) d vs. (9.9±2.0) d; t=3.91, 4.03; P=0.003, 0.002. The DSF-2i.p.+IR1 group showed a 60% increase in 30-day survival, with a statistically significant difference (25.4±7.8) d vs. (18.6±6.6) d; t=2.16, P=0.045. In the sublethal dose irradiation experiment, the thymus index of the DSF-1i.g.+IR2 and DSF-2i.g.+IR2 groups increased significantly compared with that of the IR2 group (2.42±0.48) mg/g vs. (1.60±0.25) mg/g, (2.28±0.33) mg/g vs. (1.60±0.25) mg/g; t=3.30, 3.57; P=0.017, 0.009. The DSF-2i.g.+IR2 group showed significantly increased gonad index, colony forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) count, and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count compared with the IR2 group (27.42±1.64) mg/g vs. (23.54±2.72) mg/g, (15.42±4.01) vs. (5.69±6.28), (0.99±0.12)×109/L vs. (0.61±0.12)×109/L; t=2.92, 3.17, 5.30; all P<0.05. The DSF-2i.p.+IR2 group demonstrated a significant increase in thymus index, spleen index, bone marrow nucleated cell count, CFU-S count, and WBC count compared with the IR2 group (2.23±0.48) mg/g vs. (1.69±0.09) mg/g, (1.23±0.21) mg/g vs. (0.95±0.16) mg/g, (7.09±3.33)×106/femur vs. (3.09±0.78)×106/femur, (6.27±2.38) vs. (2.34±0.62), (0.32±0.12)×109/L vs. (0.18±0.03)×109/L; t=2.60–3.60, all P<0.05. The DSF-1i.g.+IR2 group exhibited a significant increase in liver glutathione content (48.79±6.01) μmol/gprot vs. (37.49±4.33) μmol/gprot; t=3.28, P=0.014, and the DSF-2i.p.+IR2 group had a significantly decreased liver malondialdehyde content (0.63±0.52) nmol/gprot vs. (1.74±0.34) nmol/gprot; t=3.67, P=0.014.
Conclusion The two DSF derivatives, DSF-1 and DSF-2, demonstrate significant radiation protective effects in mice and hold promise for further development as radioprotectant.