Effects of low doses of DTPA on the excretion and organ retention of 144Ce in the rat.

Single doses of 5, 15 or 50 mg of Na3Ca-DTPA per kilogram of body weight were intraperitoneally injected 1 hour (prompt treatment) or 3 days (delayed treatment) after the intravenous injection of 144CeCl3 in the rat. The daily urinary and fecal excretion of 144Ce was determined for 15 days post 144Ce injection. The retention of 144Ce in the several organs 15 days after the 144Ce injection was also determined. A method to assess the DTPA-enhanced amount of urinary excretion of 144Ce from the early urinary excretion of 144Ce post therapy was proposed.