Cytophysiological aspects of radioprotection mechanisms

With the discovery that animals can be partially protected against the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation by prior administration of certain specific chemical compounds a new field of investigation was opened in biology, chemistry and physics. In the present paper the emphasis will be placed on the cytophysiological effects of the protective substances in mammalian cells with only brief reference to their action in the numerous other organisms and test systems studied. A more complete discussion of the mechanisms of radioprotection in different test system will be given elsewhere. (auth.)