The Beneficial Effects of Postirradiation Treatment with Cobaltous Chloride on the Development of Nuclear Damage in Thymocytes, Erythropoiesis, and the Survival of Mice

Abstract

Cobaltous chloride injected subcutaneously into mice immediately after irradiation decreases the number of cells with pyknotic nuclei appearing in the lymphocyte population of the thymus. In vitro studies show that the presence of cobaltous chloride in the incubating medium immediately after irradiation again lowers the subsequent appearance of cells with pyknotic nuclei. A subcutaneous injection of cobaltous chloride into mice immediately after irradiation also increases both erythropoietic recovery (as measured by the incorporation of 59Fe into blood and spleen) and survival.