Further Attempts to Influence the Elimination of Radiostrontium

Gamma spectrometry was tested as a method of measuring strontium-55 in living animals. Male CBA mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 mu C carrier-free Sr/sup 85/. Various agents that influence the retention of radiostrontium were administered prior to and following Sr/sup 85/-injection. Measurements of activity were made in a small animal-counter 3 min and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days afterwards, The mean value of the retention of the control groups at 7 days was used as the standard value with which results of treated groups were compared. Of the agents tested strontium chloride and magnesium sulfate were found to be more effective in decreasing radiostrontium retention. No dose dependent effect of inactive strontium was observed within the dose range investigated. Results were in good agreement with those of previous attempts to influence the retention of radiostrontium in mice when Sr/sup 90/ was used. (H.M.G.)