PROTECTION OF I-125 BRACHYTHERAPY BRAIN INJURY IN THE RAT WITH THE 21-AMINOSTEROID U-74389F

RADIATION PROTECTION WAS studied in a rat brachytherapy brain injury model. Radiation lesions were produced by stereotactic placement of high-activity iodine-125 seeds on the frontal lobe of F-344 rats. A minimum dose of 80 Gy was delivered to a 5.5-mm-radius volume. Radiation damage was evaluated 24 h after removal of the seeds by Tl-weighted gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging on a 1.5-T unit. Computerized three-dimensional reconstruction of the lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging was performed to calculate the volume of radiation injury. Two experiments were performed with rats of different weights (mean, 300 g; mean, 180 g). All animals underwent surgical placement of an indwelling internal jugular catheter before brachytherapy. Treated animals received the 21-aminosteroid U-74389F 5 mg/kg intravenously every 6 hours during the implant and for 24 hours after the removal of the iodine-125 seed. Control animals were administered vehicle only. In both experiments, a statistically significant reduction in volume of radiation damage was observed in the U-74389F-treated group compared with the control group.