Increased protective effect of hypoxia against radiation following activation of haemopoiesis with dextran sulphate

The effect of pretreatment of mice with a single injection of dextran sulphate (DS) on the protective capacity of moderate hypoxia was analysed. Dextran sulphate activated haemopoietic stem cell poulations, and irradiation under hypoxia one day after DS injection increased the number of haemopoietic stem cells surviving in the bone marrow of the femur, their recovery after irradiation, and the number of endogenous spleen colonies. A moderate hypoxia (15% O2 and 12% O2) significantly reduced the lethal effect of gamma rays in mice after DS injection and increased the value of LD 50/30. (orig.)