Copper-, iron-, manganese- and zinc-3,5-diisopropylsalicylate complexes increase survival of gamma-irradiated mice

Abstract

Eighty μmol/kg of copper(II) 2(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate) 4(H 2O) 2 [Cu(II) 2(3,5-DIPS) 4] given subcutaneously (sc) to female mice 24 h before lethal (LD 100 30 ) irradiation was found to allow 58% survival. Subsequent studies using LD 50 30 irradiations revealed that 80 or 92% survival was obtained in female or male mice, respectively, when 20 μmol/kg was given 3 h before irradiation; 88–92% survival was achieved in female mice treated with 2.5, 5, or 10 μmol/kg 3 h after irradiation; and 75 or 95% of the male mice survived when they had been given 50 μmol/kg orally 24 or 4 h, respectively, before irradiation. Using LD 50 30 irradiations it was also found that administration of 280 μmol of Fe(III)-(3,5-DIPS) 3(H 2O)/kg led to 84% survival in male mice; 80 μmol of Mn(II)-(3,5-DIPS) 2(H 2O)/kg allowed 96 or 100% survival in male or female mice, respectively; and 60 μmol Zn(II)-(3,5-DIPS) 2/kg achieved 95% survival in male mice. In addition, all of these complexes were found to have anti-convulsant activities suggesting possible protection against radiation-induced seizures. It is concluded that these essential metalloelement complexes have radiation-protection and radiation-recovery activities and that their use represents a physiological approach to preventing or perhaps predominantly facilitating recovery from radiation injury.