Whole body autoradiographic localization of dimercaptosuccinic acid per os in mice

Dimercapto [14C]succinic acid ([14C]DMSA) was given to male mice by ig 233 kBq. The mice were sacrificed by immersion in dry ice/hexane at 1, 3, 9 and 24 h. The distribution and concentration of [14C]DMSA were observed and analysed by whole-body autoradiograph. Higher concentration appeared in oral cavity, esophagus, gastrointestinal contents, liver, kidney and urine at 1 or 3 h. A moderate concentration was seen in blood, bone and skin. A remarkable reduction of radioactivity was found in liver at 9 h, but GI contents, Harderian gland, kidney and urine retained intense distribution. The results indicated that DMSA absorbed rapidly per os and was eliminated by kidney within 24 h. No tissue had a pronounced retention of the [14C]DMSA.