Abstract
The distribution and retention of arsenic in Marmoset monkeys, given 74As-arsenite (0.4 mg As/kg body weight) i.p., were studied by means of whole-body autoradiography and determination of 74As-levels in tissues and excreta. Only about 30% of the dose was eliminated over 4 days, mainly via the kidneys. All of the arsenic in urine and tissues was found to be in inorganic form. Tissues with highest accumulation 4 days after dosing were liver (about 20% of the dose), squamous epithelium of oral cavity and esophagus, kidney cortex, skin, testes (mainly tubuli seminiferi) and intestinal wall. As a rule the major part of the arsenic in these tissues was found to be associated with cellular organelles. In the liver about 50% of the arsenic was strongly bound to the rough microsomal membranes. In the soluble extract of tissues, arsenic was mainly associated with macromolecular constituents. The long retention time and tight binding of arsenic could partly be explained by the fact that no biotransformation into methylated arsenic occurred, in contrast to all other species studied so far.
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Vahter, M., Marafante, E., Lindgren, A. et al. Tissue distribution and subcellular binding of arsenic in Marmoset monkeys after injection of 74As-Arsenite. Arch Toxicol 51, 65–77 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279322
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279322