DISTRIBUTION AND EXCRETION OF THORIUM WITH EMPHASIS UPON ROUTE OF INJECTION AND AMOUNT OF CARRIER PRESENT

摘要

Four studies of the metabolism of thorium have been reviewed and an attempt has been made to establish qualitative differences in the distribution excretion patterns as a function of the amount of thorium injected. After ingestion (gavages) thorium in either tracer or carrier amounts appears to be extremely insoluble and not appreciably (< 0. 5%) absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Of that material which is absorbed, most deposits in bone. Most thorium administered intravenously deposits in soft tissue, mainly organs of the reticuloendothelial system, from which it is slowly solubilized either going to bone or being excreted. The amount found in the skeleton following this route is largely localized in the marrow.