This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Taylor, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Taylor, D. M.

The metabolism of plutonium in adult rabbits

Department of Biophysics, Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey

The distribution and retention of ²³⁹Pu has been studied in adult rabbits after intravenous or intramuscular injection of plutonium nitrate. After both intravenous and intramuscular injections the patterns of distribution and retention in the tissues are broadly similar to those found in other animal species. After intramuscular injection the bulk of the plutonium remains at the site of injection for at least one year. Translocation of plutonium from the intramuscular injection site is initially slow, and the major sites of deposition are the liver and skeleton, but after about seven weeks a marked increase was observed in the proportion of the translocated material deposited in the liver. It is suggested that more than one mechanism may be involved in the transport of plutonium from a deposit in muscle.

The intracellular distribution of plutonium has been studied in liver, at various times after intravenous injection, by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Initially the plutonium in the liver was found to sediment with the microsomes and light cell components, but by 16 weeks the majority of the plutonium was found to sediment with the mitochondrial fraction.

Received for publication May 1, 1968.