Actinide handling after wound entry with local or systemic decorporation therapy in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of actinide-contaminated wounds may be problematic because of contaminant physicochemical properties, dissemination and anatomical localization. This study investigates different chelation/resection protocols after contamination of rats with americium (Am) or plutonium (Pu) nitrate or mixed oxide (MOX; uranium (U), Pu oxide).


METHODS
Anesthetized rats were contaminated with Am or Pu nitrate (moderately soluble) or MOX (insoluble) following wounding of hind leg muscle. DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) treatment (30 μmol/kg) was immediate or delayed, systemic or local and combined or not with wound resection. Actinide urinary and tissue levels were measured.


RESULTS
Comparison of Pu nitrate and MOX dissemination at the wound site indicated a more heterogeneous localization of MOX particles. In all cases DTPA treatment reduced target tissue (bone, liver) activity levels even if DTPA treatment was started 7 days after contamination. Surgery alone increased urinary excretion suggesting release from the wound site but no subsequent increases in organ retention (bone, liver) were observed. The combination of surgery and DTPA increased Pu excretion and reduced tissue levels markedly.


CONCLUSIONS
This rodent model of actinide wound contamination has been used to test different treatments. It provides evidence of activity release as a result of surgery that seems not to lead to increased organ retention.
Laboratoire de RadioToxicologie , CEA/DSV/iRCM, Bruyères le Châtel, 91297 Arpajon , France.
Nina M
NM
Griffiths
Sylvie
S
Coudert
Daniel
D
Renault
Jean-Claude
JC
Wilk
Anne
A
Van der Meeren
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000576:Americium / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D009566:Nitrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D011005:Plutonium / Q000009:adverse effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017974:Uranium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements; D002614:Chelating Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D010087:Oxides; D017974:Uranium Compounds; C015459:plutonium nitrate; D011005:Plutonium; D004369:Pentetic Acid; C047385:uranium oxide; D000576:Americium
DTPA; MOX; americium; plutonium; wound contamination