Polyvinyl Alcohol as a Water-Soluble Marker

The usefulness of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA ${\displaystyle \overline{\text{P}}}$ =500) was examined by the absorption and excretion from the gastro-intestinal tract of adult rat. About 86% of orally injected PVA was excreted in feces in 48 hr, but no excretion was observed in urine. More than 50% of PVA injected into heart was excreted in urine in 12 hr, but no fecal PVA was observed. About 100% of orally injected PVA was recovered in the gastro-intestinal tract killed 5.5 hr after injection, but no PVA was observed in blood from the killed rats.