[Peritoneal resorption of ethidium bromide, free or linked to DNA in rodents]

Ethidium bromide, either free (EB) or bound to DNA (EB-DNA), is injected into the peritoneal cavity of adult rats or mice. EB is then detected by fluorescence microscopy in peritoneal cells and by spectrophotometry in the peritoneal fluid. EB-DNA persists for a longer period of time in the peritoneal cavity than free EB does.