Effect of external irradiation on the gastrointestinal absorption of uranium and neptunium in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The gastrointestinal absorption and systemic distribution of uranium and neptunium were determined after external gamma irradiation.


METHODS
Rats were exposed to a single whole-body dose of gamma radiation (6Gy; 0.75Gy.min(-1)). Three days after irradiation they were orally and/or intravenously contaminated with 100 microg.kg(-1) uranium or 3kBq.kg(-1) neptunium. The gastrointestinal absorption and organ distribution of both radionuclides were measured 6 days after irradiation.


RESULTS
External irradiation increased the intestinal transit time of uranium and neptunium but had no effect on their gastrointestinal absorption. The average fractional absorption was determined to be 0.93 and 0.98% (uranium) and 4.7 and 4.8% (neptunium) for the irradiated and non-irradiated rats respectively. The excretion of uranium and neptunium was not affected by the irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
A 6 Gy whole-body irradiation (gamma; 0.75Gy.min(-1)) did not affect the absorption of uranium and neptunium after oral intake.
Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Département de Protection de la santé de l'Homme et de Dosimétrie, Fontenay aux Roses, France. pascale.houpert@ipsn.fr
P
P
Houpert
F
F
Paquet
I
I
Dublineau-Naud
D000818:Animals; D004064:Digestive System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D009405:Neptunium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000528:radiation effects; D014501:Uranium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D014501:Uranium; D009405:Neptunium