Biokinetics and dosimetry of chromium, cobalt, hydrogen, iron and zinc radionuclides in male reproductive tissues of the rat

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology 1997, Vol.72 (2), p.235-248
• Main Author: BINGHAM, J. D. HARRISON and A. W. PHIPPS, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autoradiography; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Chromium Radioisotopes - administration & dosage; Chromium Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics; Cobalt Radioisotopes - administration & dosage; Cobalt Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genitalia, Male - metabolism; Ionizing radiations; Iron Radioisotopes - administration & dosage; Iron Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics; Male; Prostate - metabolism; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; Rats; Space life sciences; Tissue Distribution; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Tritium - administration & dosage; Tritium - pharmacokinetics; Zinc Radioisotopes - administration & dosage; Zinc Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 1362-3095
• DOI: 10.1080/095530097143464

Following intravenous administration to male rats, the uptake and retention by reproductive tissues of chromium-51, cobalt-57, iron-59, zinc-65 and tritium has been studied for up to 28 days. Chromium-51, 57Co, 59Fe and 3H were not or only transiently accumulated in gonads or accessory sex glands at concentrations greater than whole body concentrations. However, 65Zn was concentrated in the dorsolateral region of the prostate gland and autoradiography showed preferential uptake by epithelial cells and lumen of glands. When combined with other information available from the literature, this data would suggest that current models adequately describe the biokinetics of chromium, cobalt, iron and tritium in the prostate and testes and zinc in the testes. Uptake of zinc by the prostate would appear to be best described by an average value of 0.1% and a conservative value of 0.5%. Allowing for greater uptake of zinc (0.5%) by the prostate, after inhalation of 65Zn in a soluble form, increases prostate dose by about 3 fold compared to current models. The pessimistic assumptions of a higher relative biological effectiveness (20) for all Auger emissions from 65Zn in cell nuclei and a heterogeneous distribution of 65Zn to sensitive cells in the prostate increases prostate dose by a further factor of 9. Even on the basis of these cautious estimates, occupational exposures to radioisotopes of these elements do not explain the excess of prostate cancer reported amongst some nuclear workers.