[Absorption, distribution and excretion of 14C-putrescine in mice (author's transl)]

In order to know in detail the distribution, absorption and excretion of putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), after a single subcutaneous injection of 14C-putrescine (carrier free) in mice, localization of radioactivity in various tissues was followed by whole-body autoradiography and changes in radioactivity levels in blood, various tissues, expiration, urine and feces were examined. During 6 hours after injection, 22.5 +/- 3.2% of radioactivity was excreted in the urine, and after that the percentage excretion increased only slightly. The percentage of fecal excretion was small, being 2.7 +/- 0.2% during 5 days after injection. A considerable amount of putrescine was rapidly degraded to 14CO2; during 2 hours 34.4 +/- 4.9% of radioactivity was expired as 14CO2. In the studies on distribution in the tissues, at 10 minutes after injection, the highest radioactivity per g wet tissue was found in the kidney, but the radioactivity decreased rapidly. At 10 minutes after injection, the next highest distribution was found in the intestine. The high radioactivity in the intestine was detected also at 1 hour and 24 hours. The radioactivity in the pancreas was highest at 1 hour and 24 hours. A high radioactivity was also detected in the bone marrow by autoradiography. Therefore, the present study suggest that the accumulation of putrescine in mice take place mainly in the pancreas, bone marrow, intestine and liver.