Gallium-67 distribution in pregnant mammals

Accumulation of 67Ga citrate in early pregnancy

A 26-year-old pregnant woman complained of chest pain and dyspnea and was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma of the mediastinum. To determine the stage of malignant lymphoma, tumor scintigraphy with 67Ga citrate was performed. 67Ga scintigraphy revealed an abnormal accumulation in the center of the pelvic cavity. An artificial abortion was performed, and the early pregnancy obtained from the abortion showed a prominent uptake of 67Ga citrate ex vivo. 67Ga citrate re-examination, which was performed immediately after the abortion, showed no abnormal accumulation in the pelvic cavity. To our knowledge, this is the first medical report on an aborted tissue investigated ex vivo to determine whether it demonstrated increased uptake of 67Ga citrate.

Discovery and perspectives from the blastokinin era

The events and rationalizations that led to one discovery of the rabbit uterine protein, then called blastokinin, are narrated in historical perspective and related to the independent discovery of the same protein, named uteroglobin. The period when the name "blastokinin" remained in partial use, roughly from the original publication in 1967 until the early 1980s, is considered here as the blastokinin era. Subsequent perspectives, originating from the era, are presented on the hormonal regulation of blastokinin, as well as its distribution, biological function, and potential relationships with other entities that exist coincidentally.

Developmental toxicity evaluation of gallium nitrate in mice

Gallium nitrate, a drug with antitumor activity, is presently undergoing clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of certain malignancies. Since there are very limited published animal toxicity data available, this study was conducted to investigate the potential adverse developmental effects of this drug. Pregnant Swiss mice were administered intraperitoneally gallium nitrate at 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day on days 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 of gestation. Monitors for maternal toxicity were body weight, food consumption and clinical signs. At sacrifice (day 18) maternal weight, liver and kidney weights, and gravid uterine weights were measured. Gestational parameters monitored were numbers of total implants, resorptions, postimplantation losses, and dead fetuses. Live fetuses were sexed, weighted, and examined for external, internal and skeletal malformations and variations. Maternal toxicity was noted in all the gallium nitrate-treated groups. Embryo/fetal toxicity was evidenced by a decrease in the number of viable implants, a reduction in fetal weight, and an increase in the number of skeletal variations (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). No significant increase in the incidence of malformations was observed at 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg. The no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for both maternal and developmental toxicity of gallium nitrate was less than 12.5 mg/kg.