WHOLE-BODY AUTORADIOGRAPHIC LOCALIZATION OF CATECHOLAMIC ACID IN MICE

Catecholamic acid [catechol-3, 6-bis-(methyleneimino diacetic acid)] i s a chelating agent synthesized in our institute. Whole-body autoradio gragphic study was carried out to determine the distribution of [C-14] catecholamic acid in 5 adult male mice. Each mouse was injected iv 370 kBq. After various times the mice, under ether anesthesia, were immer sed in a mixture of dry ice and hexane. Whole-body sections were made at - 20-degrees-C , 20 mum in thickness. Results showed: (1) At 5 min, higher radioactivities appeared in blood, kidneys, gastrointestinal m ucosa, bone, skin, and hair; moderate concentrations in liver, lungs, spleen, and salivary glands. (2) During 20 min and 3 h, the radioactiv ities decreased (gradually) in all tissues except the bone. (3) Intens e radioactivity persisted in the bone, while only traces remained in t he kidneys and intestinal mucosa throughout the 24 h period of observa tion.