MACROAUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ^<14>C-DIMETHYLNITROSAMINE IN MICE AND FETUSES

Abstract

Distribution of ^<14>C-labeled dimethylnitrosamine administered orally or intravenously to adult or pregnant mice was studied by macroautoradiography. The radioactivity was localized in the liver, kidney, bone marrow and some glandular organs e.g., the mucous membranes of the alimentary tract and nasal cavity, the salivary, lachrymal and mammary glands and appendage of the skin, with less in the lymphnodes, spleen and lungs, and was minimal in the nervous tissues, muscle and testes. The pattern of the distribution of radioactivity in tissues was very similar with both routes of administration. The radioactive substances passed readily across the placenta and was distributed uniformly in fetal organs.