SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE EFFECT ON IRRADIATED CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM - ABOUT EXPERIMENTAL PILOT-STUDIES WITH RATS

It has been observed that bovine superoxide dismutase (SOD) can reduce some chronic complications due to radiotherapy. For this reason this enzyme has been used in the rat to treat radiation induced encaphaliti s, studied by the two-way avoidance test. SOD has allowed significant regression of troubles in two studies with chronic encephalitis and tw o studies with acute encephalitis. Moreover, another study has shown t hat SOD prevented cognitival troubles brought on by strong painful sti mulus. Thus SOD has been shown able to improve cerebral performances a fter a specific aggression (after radiotherapy) or after a non specifi c one (after very painful stimulus). This observation leads to interes ting prospects for therapy.