DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL PROTECTORS FOR NEUTRON IRRADIATION

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE CHEMOPROPHYLATIC PROGRAM TO PROTECT TROOPS FROM THE LETHAL EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION IS OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE. DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE (ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS) WHICH ARE QUITE EFFECTIVE AGAINST LOW LET RADIATIONS SUCH AS X-RAYS OR GAMMARAYS. ONLY RECENTLY HAVE A FEW AGENTS BEEN SHOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST THE MORE DAMAGING HIGH LET RADIATIONS SUCH AS FISSION SPECTRUM NEUTRONS. THIS STUDY WILL CONTINUE THESE INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS, TAKING THE NEXT STEPS IN A DRUG DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE STUDY WILL TEST FOUR (4) DRUG (EACH AT THREE DOSES) FOR THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT AGAINST THE WHOLE BODY AND CELLULAR EFFECTS OF FISSION NEUTRON IRRADIATION. THE ABILITY OF THE DRUGS TO MODIFY THE REPAIR OF SUBLETHAL DAMAGE WILL ALSO BE TESTED. THE PROTECTOR RESPONSE USING THE 'BURST' MODE OF OPERATION OR MODIFYING THE NEUTRON TO GAMMA RATIO WITH VARIOUS MATERIALS WILL BE TESTED.