Translocation of Thorotrast in the body.
To investigate whether there is a permanent translocation of Thorotrast in the body, the liver of male Lewis rats was removed 4 weeks after injection of Thorotrast (300 microliters) and replaced by a donor liver. In half of the animals the spleen was removed as well. Measuring the 232Th content in the donor liver at different times after implantation demonstrated a permanent transport of 232Th into the surrogate organ. After 231 days a 232Th depot of about 1.1 mg was found, representing about 3% of the total body burden. The additional removal of the spleen resulted in a significantly lower transport of 232Th into the implanted liver. Histological examinations of the donated livers revealed increasing local concentration of Thorotrast granules, leading to the development of conglomerates. A comparable translocation of Thorotrast was verified in two humans who required liver transplantation more than 40 years after Thorotrast injection.
Spiethoff
A
A
Department of Biophysics and Medical Radiation Physics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg.
Wesch
H
H
Wegener
K
K
Hanisch
E
E
Kaul
A
A
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013156:Splenectomy; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D013911:Thorium Dioxide