[On the mechanism of radioprotective effect of NO-synthase inhibitors].

We studied the influence on hemodynamics and radioprotective activity of two inhibitors of NO-synthase (NOS)--isothiourea derivatives with different NOS isoform selectivity: T1023--a selective inhibitor of endothelial and inducible NOS; and NTT2--a highly selective inhibitor of neuronal NOS. Both compounds at a dose of 1/7 LD50/15 caused a vasopressive effect and baroreflex response in normal Wistar rats. However, the nature of hemodynamic changes was qualitatively different. T1023 caused a prolonged elevation of vascular tone and reflex shift resulted in a significant and lasting reduction in the systemic blood flow (35-45%), which created conditions for the development of circulatory hypoxia. The use of NTT2 caused a reflex change in hemodynamics accompanied by vasodilation; and systemic blood flow was maintained at the initial level. T1023 effectively protected mice subjected to 10 Gy γ-irradiation and their bone marrow stem cells irradiated with 6 Gy, not yielding to the radioprotective effect of cystamine. NTT2 at these doses did not show any radioprotective effect. The obtained results support the leading mechanism of the radioprotective effect of NOS inhibitors is the induction of hypoxia. With this mechanism of action a significant radioprotective activity can be expected for the inhibitors which effectively suppress primarily endothelial NOS.