Systemic effect of chitin after intravenous administration to dogs

The systemic effect of chitin and chitin oligomer after intravenous administration was investigated in dogs by determining the chemiluminescence (CL) response and the white blood cell count (WBC). Chitin oligomer (2mg/kg) and physiological saline (5ml) did not have a systemic effect. However, in the dogs injected with chitin, WBC decreased significantly from 1 to 4 h after injection and then increased gradually to 1.4 times the pre-injection level at 72 h, while CL was significantly increased 1–2 h after injection.     

Distribution of various nickel compounds in rat organs after oral administration

In this study, eight kinds of nickel (Ni) compounds were orally administered to Wistar male rats and the distribution of each compound was investigated 24 h after the administration. The Ni compounds used in this experiment were nickel metal [Ni−M], nickel oxide (green) [NiO(G)], nickel oxide (black) [NiO(B)], nickel subsulfide [Ni₃S₂], nickel sulfide [NiS], nickel sulfate [NiSO₄], nickel chloride [NiCl₂], and nickel nitrate [Ni(NO₃)₂]. The solubilities of the nickel compounds in saline solution were in the following order; [Ni(NO₃)₂>NiCl₂>NiSO₄]≫[NiS>Ni₃S₂]>[NiO(B)>Ni−M>NiO(G)]. The Ni level in the visceral organs was higher in the rats given soluble Ni compounds; Ni(NO₃)₂, NiCl₂, NiSO₄, than that in the rats receiving other compounds. In the rats to which soluble Ni compounds were administered, 80–90% of the recovered Ni amounts in the examined organs was detected in the kidneys. On the other hand, the Ni concentration in organs administered scarcely soluble Ni compounds; NiO(B), NiO(G), and Ni−M were very low. The estimated absorbed fraction of each Ni compounds was increased with the increase of the solubility. These results suggest that the kinetic behavior of Ni compounds administered orally is closely related with the solubility of Ni compounds, and that the solubility of Ni compounds is one of the important factors for determining the health effect of Ni compounds.     

Distribution of plutonium-239 in the body of dogs 7 days after the intravenous administration of a citrate complex of the metal

In experiments with 12 dogs of both sexes it was found that 7 days after intravenous injection of the citrate (2%) complex the concentration of plutonium in the organs and tissues, which are considered noncritical, is lower than in the skeleton by one or two orders of magnitude. No substantial differences were found in plutonium levels in the endocrine glands, (0.7-4.2) X 10(-3%), different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, (0.9-1.7) X 10(-3%), different regional lymph nodes, (2.4-3.8) X 10(-3%), and in different parts of the central nervous system, (0.06-0.19) X 10(-3%) of the total amount of plutonium administered.     

Erythrocyte ferritin in patients with normal and abnormal iron metabolism

Erythrocyte and serum ferritin was determined in 36 patients with different pictures of diseases and under bleeding therapy in idiopathic haemochromatosis (IH). With latent iron deficiency there was no significant difference in the ferritin content of erythrocytes in comparison with the control group. The intraerythrocyte ferritin content in idiopathic haemochromatosis is always increased and will normalize under bleeding therapy as well serum ferritin. After disrupting the therapy the ferritin content in erythrocytes will more rapidly increase again than in the serum. Increased erythrocyte ferritin could be identified in patients with anaemia due to ineffective erythropoiesis.     

Induction of a 'stress' protein in intact mammalian organs after the intravenous administration of sodium arsenite

The profile of nascent proteins synthesized in various rabbit organs after the intravenous injection of sodium arsenite was analyzed by the cell-free translation of purified polysomes. Examination of the translation products of polysomes isolated 1 hr after injection of sodium arsenite revealed a marked induction of synthesis of a protein of molecular weight 74,000 (74K) in the kidney, heart and liver which was similar to a 'heat shock' protein which was induced in these organs after elevation of body temperature by 2.5 to 3 degrees C. Synthesis of the 74K protein was not detected in the translation products of brain polysomes isolated 1 hr after sodium arsenite injection.     

Distribution of sulfanilamides and penicillins in the blood and organs of rats after their combined administration

The use of benzylpenicillin and ampicillin in combination with sulfalen or sulfadimethoxine increased the levels of the penicillins and sulfalen in some organs and tissues of rats. This was accompanied by a rise in the concentration gradients of the drugs. It is concluded that the combined use of the penicillins and sulfanilamides determines their increased penetration from the blood into other organs and tissues of the host.     

Distribution and pharmacokinetics of dinitrosyl iron complexes in rat organs

Dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) have been traced in rat blood and organs after intravenous infusion of Oxacom. It is shown that the active principle (DNIC with glutathione) is rapidly distributed through the organism and deposited in blood and organs as protein-bound DNICs. The specific levels of DNIC in the main body organs are comparable, whereas its apparent lifetimes relate as blood < heart = lung < liver < kidney. Spin trapping assays indicate that protein-bound DNICs are a major but not the only form of NO deposition; the next largest depot is most probably formed by S-nitrosothiols. The gradual release of NO from such pools ensures the smooth and prolonged hypotensive effect of Oxacom.