Investigation of the distribution and excretion of okadaic acid in mice using immunostaining method

This paper describes the distribution and excretion of okadaic acid (OA) ad ministered orally to mice and examined by immunostaining method. Five min a fter administration, OA was systemically distributed, being detected in the lung, liver, heart, kidney, and small and large intestine. The swollen sma ll intestinal villi contained OA, causing the separation of epithelial cell s from villi and erosion, which developed within 1 h. Bleeding and edema in the lung were also found, and the distribution of OA coincided with these injuries. Although a considerable amount of OA was accumulated in the liver , no symptoms, such as bleeding, were observed. The detection of OA continu ed for 2 weeks in the liver and blood vessels. Excretion from kidney, cecum and large intestine began even after 5 min of the administration, and the excretion from intestine continued for 4 weeks. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.