Influence of oxidizing or reducing agents on gastrointestinal absorption of U, Pu, Am, Cm and Pm by rats

Journal Article · Fri Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198602000-00006· OSTI ID:5675059

Sullivan, M F; Ruemmler, P S; Ryan, J L; Buschbom, R L

Absorption of 233U, 238Pu, 241Am, and 244Cm from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was measured in rats, fed ad libitum or fasted, that were gavaged with solutions containing ferric iron, ferrous iron, iron powder, quinhydrone or ascorbic acid. Absorption and retention of all of these actinides was increased substantially by fasting and by the addition of mild oxidizing agents, ferric iron and quinhydrone. In contrast, absorption and retention were decreased to below the fasted level by all the reducing agents except ascorbic acid, which caused diarrhea and an increase in absorption. Absorption of the lanthanide element 147Pm from the intestine of fasted rats was also increased by ferric iron. Some of these actinide elements are polyvalent and are, in some cases, known to be absorbed from the GI tract more readily in their higher oxidation states. This suggested an oxidation-reduction mechanism for the effect of fasting and the action of the chemical agents used. However, the improbability that either 241Am(III) 244Cm(III) or 147Pm is converted to a different oxidation state under these conditions makes that mechanism unlikely. Other explanations are suggested.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• OSTI ID: 5675059
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560172* -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Animals-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
ASCORBIC ACID
BENZOQUINONES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CURIUM 244
CURIUM ISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FASTING
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
IRON
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
METALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PROMETHIUM 147
PROMETHIUM ISOTOPES
QUINHYDRONE
QUINONES
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTH NUCLEI
RATS
REDUCING AGENTS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
URANIUM 233
URANIUM ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
VITAMINS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES