Chitosan is a natural chelating agent. It is derived from chitin which is a cellulose-like biopolymer distributed widely in nature, expecially in shellfish, insects, fungi, and yeast. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether
orally
given water soluble chitosan can eliminate intraperitoneally injected radiostrontium (Sr-85) in mice.
Water soluble chitosan and usual food was mixed as 10:90 by weight. The mixed food were fed for 60 (group 1) or 90 days (group 2). No chitosan was given to the control group. Each group consists of 5 mice. Sr-85 (0.2 μCi) was intraperitoneally
injected
after completion of prefeeding of usual or mixed food. The same food was given for more 5 days. The animals were sacrificed at the 6th day. Isolated spines, skulls, femurs, tibias, teeth, and tails were counted by a gamma counter.
The retention of Sr-85 in bones was significantly lowere in the prefeeding groups (p<0.01). It was lowest in the 90 day prefeeding group. Therefore, prefeeding of water-soluble chitosan was effective on the removal of intraperitoneally injected
radiostrontium.
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