Gastrointestinal iron and cobalt absorption and iron status in young rats and guinea pigs.

The gastrointestinal absorption of Fe and Co by rats and guinea pigs of different ages was measured by comparing the whole-body retention of 59Fe and 57Co after oral and intraperitoneal administrations. The age-groups studied included newborn, weanlings and adults. The absorption of both Fe and Co decreased markedly with age in both rats and guinea pigs. In the rat, absorption remained elevated during the suckling period, while in the guinea pig absorption decreased markedly during suckling. In both species, Fe and Co absorption were similar, and remained elevated above adult values for some time after weaning. The generally greater absorption of Fe and Co by rats than by guinea pigs and the longer duration of maximal absorption in the rats may have involved differences in Fe status in the two species and differences in the timing of gut maturation.

The gastrointestinal absorption of plutonium and americium in rats and guinea pigs after ingestion of dusts from the former nuclear weapons site at Maralinga: implications for human exposure.

The gastrointestinal absorption of plutonium and americium present in dusts from the Maralinga test sites in South Australia has been measured as an input to dose assessments. The materials studied were from three different areas, designated Taranaki (Q380II), TM100 (10/2) and N. Plume (26). The three dusts were fed to groups of rats, mixed with their normal food. The Taranaki and TM100 dusts were also fed to guinea pigs, as a suspension in water. Expressed as fractional absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (f1), the values obtained for plutonium were 2 x 10(-6) and 8 x 10(-6) for Taranaki dust in rats and guinea pigs, respectively, 3 x 10(-6) and 10(-5) for TM100 dust in rats and guinea pigs, respectively, and 2 x 10(-6) for N. Plume dust in rats. The f1 values obtained for americium were 3 x 10(-6) and 2 x 10(-5) for Taranaki dust in rats and guinea pigs, respectively, 10(-5) and 5 x 10(-5) for Taranaki dust in rats and guinea pigs, respectively, and 10(-5) for N. Plume dust in rats. On the basis of these results, rounded f1 values used in the dose assessments were 10(-5) for plutonium and 10(-4) for americium, applying to all intakes of dust. These values compare with the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommendations of 10(-3) for unspecified chemical forms of both elements, 10(-4) for plutonium nitrate and 10(-5) for plutonium oxides. The effect of changes in f1 values on doses from 239Pu and 241Am is considered.

Gastrointestinal absorption and retention of polonium in adult and newborn rats and guinea pigs.

The gastrointestinal absorption of 210Po was determined by comparing tissue retention after oral and systemic administration. The results indicate an increase in absorption in adult rats for 210Po administered in liver compared with 210Po nitrate with estimated absorption of 5 and 13%, respectively. For 210Po citrate, values of about 7% were obtained in 1-day-old neonate and adult rats while absorption in guinea pigs was estimated to be about 23% in 1-day-old neonates, 17% in 5-day-old neonates, and 9% in adults. Gut retention of ingested 210Po in neonates was high in rats but not guinea pigs. In adult animals, but not neonates, the liver accounted for a greater proportion of 210Po reaching the bloodstream after ingestion than after systemic injection. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to current assumptions made in the calculation of doses from 210Po.

Measurements of the gastrointestinal absorption and tissue distribution of plutonium, americium and polonium in experimental animals.

In order to set limits on environmental and occupational intakes of radionuclides, information is needed on their uptake and metabolism in man. Human data are very limited, particularly for long-lived alpha-emitting isotopes such as those of the actinides. Animal experiments are therefore an important source of data on the distribution of radionuclides in tissues, and the effects of factors such as subject age and the chemical form of elements on gastrointestinal absorption. The NRPB performs experimental programs using mainly rats and guinea pigs. In order to study the gastrointestinal absorption and tissue distribution of plutonium, americium and polonium, a variety of analytical techniques are employed. These include ion exchange and solvent extraction leading to alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. The investigation of low specific-activity environmental or industrial materials, and the very low bioavailability of elements such as the actinides, means that very low levels of activity have to be measured. Contamination at the dissection and tissue separation stage, as well as during the radiochemistry, has to be rigorously avoided. Where very detailed information is needed on the location of radionuclides within tissues, such as in the study of alpha-emitter distribution in the intestine, autoradiography is used. The application and relevance of different measurement techniques to animal studies will be discussed and examples of the results presented.

Pulsatile changes of electrical impedance in the lower limb.

The ratio of the pulsatile and the mean value of the volume of blood flowing through the calves of normal subjects with each heart beat was calculated from electrical impedance changes during venous occlusion plethysmography. Measurements made concurrently by proven Doppler ultrasound techniques did not correlate with ratios derived from the impedance measurements. The pulsatile change in electrical impedance in the limbs appears to be due more to changes of resistance in the blood than to pulsatile changes in the volume of the limb.

The hydraulic impedance of the lower limb: its relevance to the success of bypass operations for occlusion of the superficial femoral artery.

Simultaneous measurements of pressure and flow waves were made in the course of 25 femoropopliteal bypass operations. From these measurements the the hydraulic impedance of the arterial system in the lower limb was calculated. The values obtained were correlated with the results of the operations. Although reconstruction reduced the impedance we were unable to predict accurately the probable result of the operation on the basis of these measurements. The results suggest that success is more closely related to a good collateral circulation than to "run off".

Impedance plethysmography: evaluation of a simplified system of electrodes for the measurement of blood flow in the lower limb.

Venous occlusion plethysmography was used to measure the flow of blood into the lower limbs of 30 normal volunteers. An impedance plethysmograph, using disposable point electrodes, was compared with a mercury in Silastic strain gauge plethysmograph in 20 subjects. The effect of changes in the configuration of the point electrodes was studied in 10 subjects. Impedance plethysmography was shown to be reproducible, and one particular configuration of point electrodes was shown to be superior to the others.

Comparison of impedance and strain gauge plethysmography in the measurement of blood flow in the lower limb.

Simultaneous measurement of the flow of blood in the calf in 24 normal volunteers by impedance and mercury strain gauge plethysmography has revealed a systematic difference in the results from the two methods. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.