Studies of plutonium and the lymphatic system: six years of progress at Colorado State University

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:4061467

Lebel, J L; Bistline, R W; Schallberger, J A; Dagle, G E; Gomez, L S

Air-oxidized PuO$sup 2$, high-fired (850$sup 0$C) PuO$sub 2$, Pu(NO$sub 3$$)$$sub 4$, PuF$sub 4$, and PuCl$sub 3$, all of which had known amounts of $sup 241$Am, were implanted over the left metacarpus of beagles. The concentration of plutonium and $sup 241$Am in various tissues was measured as a function of time. The effect of diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) therapy on organ deposition was studied. Significant differences in the translocation dynamics of air- oxidized PuO$sub 2$, high-fired PuO$sub 2$, and Pu(NO$sub 3$$)$$sub 4$ in the left superficial cervical lymph node (LSCLN) were observed by in vivo measurement and radiochemical analysis. A 3 percent buildup of plutonium was observed 2 weeks after implantation of air-oxidized PuO$sub 2$, with an exponential buildup to 17 percent at 1 year. With Pu(NO$sub 3$$)$$sub 4$ and high-fired PuO$sub 2$, the activity accumulation built up to a peak of 31 and 20 percent, respectively, at 30 and 60 days after implantation, followed by a gradual regression. At the implant site 1 year postimplant, a 70 percent reduction in activity was observed with Pu(NO$sub 3$$)$$sub 4$, a 90 percent reduction with PuO$sub 2$ (high-fired), and only a 20 percent reduction with air-oxidized PuO$sub 2$. The effect of larger particle size on the movement of plutonium from a wound site was speculated. Chemical form and physical form appear to change the rate of translocation and relative depositions of plutonium and americium in various organs.Particle size was not found to be an important factor in the total movement of plutonium in afferent and efferent lymph. More plutonium moves in the cellular fraction of afferent and efferent lymph regardless of particle size. The clearance of plutonium particles from the lymph nodes was associated with necrosis of macrophages. The effect of DTPA therapy on plutonium concentration was greater for the nitrate than for the other chemical forms. (auth)

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins; Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA); USAEC Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research, Washington, D.C.
• NSA Number: NSA-33-023587
• OSTI ID: 4061467
• Report Number(s): CONF-740930--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*LYMPHATIC SYSTEM-- RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
*PLUTONIUM-- TRANSLOCATION
560172* --Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies--Radiation Effects--Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology--Animals
BEAGLES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DTPA
N48720* --Life Sciences--Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Animals
PLUTONIUM CHLORIDES
PLUTONIUM FLUORIDES
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION