Determination of platinum by neutron activation analysis in nerve tissue from rats treated with cisplatin

The analytical method used for the determination of traces of platinum and gold in different tissues of Wistar rats is based on neutron activation analysis with radiochemical separation of gold. This separation is performed by electrolytic deposition of gold on a niobium cathode, which ensures the highest radiochemical purity without any spectral interference from calcium or other major elements. Corrections for the nuclear interference from double neutron capture, caused by the gold content of the samples, were found to be insignificant at the levels reported. The following neural tissues were analyzed for their content of platinum: the dorsal root ganglions as well as the dorsal and ventral part of the spinal cord. The highest level of platinum was found in dorsal root ganglions.