Chemical and biological consequences of β-decay

Summary Radioactive decay in a labelled molecule leads to specific chemical and biological consequences which are due to local transmutation effects such as recoil, electronic excitation, build-up of charge states and change of chemical identity, as well as to internal radiolytic effects. In the present paper these effects are reviewed emphasizing the relation of the chemical alterations on a molecular level to the biological manifestation. Potential importance of this type of research for biomedical applications is pointed out. In part 1 we review the underlying physical and chemical principles and consequences of -decay of³H,¹⁴C,³²P,³³P,³⁵S and¹²⁵I for gaseous and simple condensed organic systems. Part 2 which will appear in the next issue will include the discussion of biological effects associated with -decay.     

Cholelithiasis in a male rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) fed a cholesterol-containing diet.

In this report we describe the development of cholelithiasis in a male rhesus monkey fed a cholesterol-containing diet for 24 months. This represents the only case of cholelithiasis in this species of nonhuman primate that we have observed out of a population of over 500 rhesus monkeys fed similar cholesterol-containing diets. Associated with the appearance of gallstones was the production of bile saturated with cholesterol, and the excretion of bile with an abnormal bile acid composition.