Effectiveness of DTPA therapy when administered intragastrically or intraperitoneally to remove Pu from adult or neonatal rats.

Adult and neonatal rats were given 238Pu by gavage or parenterally and treated with 0.5 mmoles/kg of calcium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), by gavage or parenterally, to determine its effectiveness for removing Pu. Parenteral administration of DTPA to adult rats 2 h after an intravenous 238Pu injection was much more effective than intragastric treatment, removing nearly 70% of the retained dose. When 238Pu was given to adults intragastrically (IG), followed by DTPA given either intraperitoneally (IP) or IG 2 h later, 238Pu absorption increased while retention remained either unchanged, or increased. When neonates were given 238Pu IG and treated 2 h later with intraperitoneal or intragastric DTPA, removal of 238Pu was better than in adults: more than 80% of the 238Pu that was absorbed and retained was removed by intragastric DTPA. When neonates were injected IP with 238Pu, treatment with intraperitoneal DTPA was more effective for 238Pu removal than intragastric treatment.