Protective effect of coenzyme I on mouse hematopoietic system against radiation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of NADH on the hematopoietic system of mice against radiation. METHODS: Sixty mice were randomized into 3 groups (20/group), Group I serving as normal control group. Three days before exposure to single-dose (6.0 Gy) whole body 60Co gamma-ray irradiation in the other 2 groups, the mice in Group II received injections with 0.9% NaCl and those in Group III with intraperitoneal NADH (10 mg/kg, twice daily). The peripheral white blood cells count was carried out in the blood samples from the mouse tail vein at different time after the exposure, and the bone marrow smears were prepared with routine staining to examine the number of the granulocytes and determine their mitotic index 24 h after radiation. DNA fragmentation in mouse bone marrow cells was detected by DNA electrophoresis 24 and 48 h after irradiation. RESULTS: The white blood cell count was significantly higher in mice with coenzyme I treatment before exposure to the irradiation. NADH also increased the number of the granulocytes and their mitotic index without inhibiting DNA fragmentation in the bone marrow cells as observed 24 and 48 h after the irradiation. CONCLUSION: NADH can markedly prevent the damages to the hematopoietic system in mice exposed to irradiation, but the mechanism does not involve the inhibition of bone marrow cell apoptosis.