Influence of age at exposure on concentrations of /sup 239/Pu in beagle gonads

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198904000-00010· OSTI ID:6146922

Miller, S C; Bruenger, F W; Williams, F W

The influence of age at injection of /sup 239/Pu on the gonadal concentrations with time after injection in beagle dogs was determined. In addition, the distribution patterns of Pu within the organs were examined using fission track autoradiography. Beagles of different ages (juveniles approximately 90 d; young adults approximately 17 mo; aged approximately 5 y) were given a single injection of /sup 239/Pu(IV)-citrate and most were allowed to live out their natural lifespan. At times greater than 1,000 d after exposure, the concentrations of /sup 239/Pu (expressed as percent injected per gram organ weight) were higher in the testes and ovaries from animals injected as young adults (median 9.8 X 10(-4) and 15.4 X 10(-4%) g-1, respectively) when compared with the juveniles (median 2.8 X 10(-4) and 7.7 X 10(-4%) g-1, respectively) or aged (median 6.3 X 10(-4) and 17.2 X 10(-4%) g-1, respectively) animals. The lower concentrations found in the animals injected as juveniles can be attributed to the increase in gonadal size that occurs during organ maturation and puberty. Fission track autoradiographs from gonadal tissues at least 5 y after exposure confirm the nonuniform distribution of the nuclide in these organs. In the testis, Pu was found mostly in the interstitial tissues and in the ovary, was found in the stroma, particularly the medullary stroma.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6146922
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 56:4; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BEAGLES
DOGS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GONADS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INJECTION
INTAKE
INTRAVENOUS INJECTION
ISOTOPES
LIFE SPAN
MAMMALS
NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES