Biochemical mechanism of radioprotection by diethyllipoamide

After ip DELA into mice, the contents of liver glycogen, blood lactic acid and blood pyruvic acid decreased drastically at the time of optimal radioprotection, but the blood [lactic acid]/[pyruvic acid] ratio remained unchanged as compared with those of normal controls. In addition, DELA raised the contents of endogenous cAMP of spleen and liver, inhibited the activity of TdR kinase and diminished the incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA of bone marrow cells. The radioprotective action is attributed to the overall effects of these changes in carbohydrate and nucleic acid metabolism rather than to hypoxia.