Autoradiographical Distribution and Excretion Studies with S 35 -Labelled Penicillin

Abstract

Summary

Radioactive S³⁵-labelled penicillin has been injected into mice and its distribution in the various tissues of the body studied by autoradiographical technics. The results correlate well with the observations that have been made using the microbiological assay for penicillin. In the kidneys the concentration is always, and in the liver generally, higher than in the blood, but in other organs during the whole course of distribution and excretion it is lower than in the blood. In the lungs the concentration nearly approximates that of the blood, while in most tissues it is considerably lower. It is lowest in the central nervous system. The method here described can be applied to the study of penicillin distribution in diseased tissues. Preliminary observations have shown the diffusion of labelled penicillin into abscesses, and the difference in distribution of penicillin in the kidneys under the influence of probenecid and after the administration of penicillin alone.