Pages: 361-371

Authors: Marketa Nemcova, Lenka Andrejsova, Anna Lierova, Marcela Jeličova, Zuzana Šinkorova, and Jiri Janda

Abstract

The kinetics of strontium, ⁸⁵Sr, and cesium, ¹³⁴Cs, were evaluated in a mouse experimental model to determine the impact of these radionuclides on a living organism concerning total body irradiation. Our study demonstrates that the elimination rate of ¹³⁴Cs from the skeleton and teeth is influenced by total body irradiation and the presence of ⁸⁵Sr. Higher accumulation and faster ¹³⁴Cs elimination rates were observed in the skeleton and teeth of mice administrated with a mixture of ¹³⁴Cs + ⁸⁵Sr radionuclides. Regarding ⁸⁵Sr, only a minimal effect was observed on its accumulation rate in skeleton, teeth, and muscle in total body irradiation mice. The effect of the ⁸⁵Sr + ¹³⁴Cs radionuclide mix on the accumulation of ⁸⁵Sr was more apparent in teeth, showing a higher retention rate after 10-24 days of administration in non-irradiated mice. The evaluation of the kinetics of these radionuclides provided much- needed insight on their effects during the first two months after exposure, demonstrating that the accumulation rate of ⁸⁵Sr is greater than that of ¹³⁴Cs. Further, the elimination rate of the former is slower in comparison to the latter. Interestingly, total body irradiation has a greater effect on the hematological parameters of the mice blood than the radionuclides alone.

Key words: ⁸⁵Sr, ¹³⁴Cs, mouse model, internal contamination, total body irradiation

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