Distribution of Local Anaesthetics: Accumulation in Some Endocrine Polypeptide‐hormone Producing Cell Systems

Abstract

After the injection of labelled procaine and lidocaine in mice, the location and concentration of radioactivity was demonstrated by autoradiographical methods. An accumulation in some endocrine cells such as the pancreatic islets, the hypophysis, the adrenal medulla and certain cells of the thyroid (probably representing the calcitonin‐producing parafollicular cells) was shown. After the injection of [14C]‐procaine in chicks, an accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the ultimobranchial gland (which produces calcitonin in birds), but not in the thyroid. Radioactivity was also shown to be strongly concentrated in structures containing melanin, such as the pigment of the eye, skin and hair and in some organs involved in the metabolism and excretion of these drugs.