The influence of age on the effectiveness of DTPA in reducing 141Ce retention in rats

The influence of age on the effectiveness of chelation treatment in reducing retention of radioactive cerium was studied in two- and six-week-old albino rats. 141Ce was administered intraperitoneally, followed immediately and after 24 and 48 hours by intraperitoneal administration of the tri-sodium calcium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-Na3(CaDTPA) at 380 μmol/kg body weight. The whole-body retention was determined 2, 4 and 6 days after radiocerium administration, when the animals were killed and the organ retention was determined. The chelation therapy significantly reduced the whole-body retention of radiocerium. This treatment was however twice as effective in older as in younger animals. (author)