Organic tritum in brain of new-born pigs from mothers who had received tritium water during pregnancy

Activity of organic tritium after application of tritium oxide is higher and turnover is slower in developing brain than in other organs. This had been demonstrated in an experiment where pregnant sows were given tritium oxide to drink, and the new-borns were either kept for additional exposure during lactation (43 days) or swapped with new-borns from uncontaminated mothers. Analysis of the cerebella of the piglets showed highest activities at birth in fatty acids and cholesterol whereas cerebroside activity increased during lactation. High levels of activity, particularly in fatty acids and cholesterol are still present at an age of 115 days. A large part of lipids and structural material in proteins etc. laid down in brain during development is thus retained for long periods of time. Brain represents, therefore, together with the ovary, a critical organ for tritium exposure during development. (author)