Preferential accumulation of radioactivity in rat kidneys after the administration of 125I-labelled Fab antidigitalis antibodies.

125I-labelled Fab antidigitalis antibodies were administered i.p. to rats, whose organs were removed 20 h later and examined for radioactivity. Maximum radioactivity was found in the thyroid region, followed by the kidneys, liver, adrenals, heart, skeletal muscle and brain. The radioactivity of kidneys was greater than in any of the other organs except the thyroid, where it probably resulted from the uptake of radioiodine, released from the antibodies. After injection of Na125I there was no difference between the kidneys and the liver. In kidney homogenates, radioactivity was present both in the 100,000xg pellet and in the supernatant. The possibility of accumulation or production of the endogenous digitalis-like factor in the kidneys is discussed.