The removal of inhaled 144CeCl3 from beagle dogs

The effectiveness of bilateral bronchopulmonary lavage with a diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) solution or an isotonic saline solution for removing 144Ce was investigated in Beagle dogs that had inhaled 144CeCl3. Two dogs were lavaged with a DTPA solution on days 0 and 5 after 144Ce exposure, 2 on day 0 only and 2 on day 5 only. Two other dogs were laved with an isotonic saline solution on days 0 and 5 post-exposure. Although some 144Ce was removed in the lavage fluid, DTPA treatment removed more through enhanced urinary 144Ce excretion. The effectiveness of bilateral bronchopulmonary lavage treatment with the saline or the DTPA solutions was compared with the effectiveness of unilateral bronchopulmonary lavage and the intravenous administration of both solutions. The most effective treatment was bilateral bronchopulmonary lavage with DTPA on day 0 and days 0 and 5 after inhalation of 144CeCl3 which resulted in the greatest reduction in the percentage initial lung burden in lung, liver and skeleton of the treated dogs as compared to untreated control animals.