Influence of gestation and lactation on radiostrontium-induced malignancies in mice. I. Incidence, distribution and characteristics of 90-Sr-induced malignancies

Induction of neoplasia by 140Ba in mice

C57Bl mice of both sexes were given intraperitoneal injections of 140Ba-nitrate at 3 different dose levels (55.5, 37.0 and 18.5 kBq/g b.w.). Osteosarcomas were found in all groups and the osteoblastic type was the most common. In the middle and the highest dose groups, female mice developed tumours more frequently than the males. The irradiation doses were calculated to the femur, lumbar vertebrae and sternum and turned out to vary between 6 and 0.7 Gy.

Uptake and retention of 133Ba and 140Ba-140La in mouse tissues

The distribution of barium in the mouse has been determined qualitatively by whole-body autoradiography after i.v. administration of 133BaCl2 solution. The quantitative distribution of 104Ba and 140La has been analyzed after i.p. injections of the two nuclides in equilibrium by measuring the activity in excised organs in a two-channel scintillation counter. Approximate doses to the eyes and different parts of the skeleton have been calculated.