Uptake, distribution, and excretion of 31silicon in normal rats.

This study examines the uptake, distribution, and excretion of 31-labeled silicic acid in rat tissues at 1, 2, and 4 h after intracardiac injection of 31Si(OH)4. Plasma levels of 31Si decrease rapidly from 0.71 +/- 0.04% at 1 h to 0.07 +/- 0.06% of the dose administered per milliliter at 4 h. 31Si in plasma was found to be virtually entirely nonprotein bound. Kidney, liver, and lung accumulated the greatest amounts of 31Si per gram of wet weight, with concentrations at 4 h suggesting both relatively avid uptake and retention. Bone, skin, spleen, muscle, and testes also accumulated 31Si, but the levels were considerably lower than the aforementioned organs. Brain, however, contained negligible concentrations of 31Si throughout the study, indicating active exclusion by the blood-brain barrier. The major portion of the administered 31Si, 77 +/- 12%, was recovered in the urine within 4 h.