Effect of chlorpromazine as a sensitizer of rat brain on radiation-induced AMP and adenosine metabolism.

The role of AMP and adenosine was investigated in the radiosensitization of normal brain tissues by chlorpromazine. Their metabolism was evaluated by estimating the levels of 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase activity in the brains of rats treated with chlorpromazine alone or chlorpromazine and irradiation. The extent of lipid peroxidation, measured in terms of the lipid peroxidase enzyme formed, increased with chlorpromazine treatment and irradiation. Chlorpromazine treatment was found to decrease AMP and adenosine metabolism, as shown by a marked reduction in the level of 5'-nucleotidase and ADA activity which was accompanied by a marked curtailment in the DNA, RNA and protein contents of the brain. Chlorpromazine was also found to increase the radiation-induced activity of acid phosphatase, indicating its action on the lysosomal activity of the brain cells. In the present study a low dose of chlorpromazine, i.e. 17 mg/kg body weight, was found to be more effective than a high dose of 34 mg/kg. The results of this study suggest that chlorpromazine probably sensitizes normal brain tissues to radiation by inhibiting AMP and adenosine metabolism via a hydroxy-radical induced decrease in DNA, RNA and protein metabolism with a concomitant increase in lysosomal activity.