Autoradiography and Drug Localization

Abstract

Autoradiography was used to follow the distribution of 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC), its analogue 1-amino-2-methylcyelopentanecarboxylic acid, tryptamine, and a barbituric acid analogue of phenylalanine. Mice were injected with 14C-labelled compounds, and sagittal sections were exposed for autoradiography. ACPC was localized in the pancreas and also in Walker tumors. Similarly, the methyl analogue accumulated in the pancreas but was located also in the kidney. There was a high content in an Ehrlich ascites tumor. The barbiturate was found mainly in the intestine and gallbladder. Tryptamine was rapidly metabolized and excreted through the kidney. These findings add much to the information obtained by the classical techniques of biochemistry.