Identification Of Volume Of Distribution For Pu-239 In Rats

The work within identifies the volume of distribution (V-D) of plutonium using data from studies in which rats were administered an intravenous bolus injection of Pu-239(4+)-citrate. The research investigated two separate datasets. Data published by Durbin and colleagues in "Plutonium Deposition Kinetics in Rats" and studies conducted by Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) were examined. The goal of this research was to identify a value of V-D consistent with the known biological behavior of plutonium. The identified V-D is necessary to develop a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. The creation of a PBPK model describing the behavior of plutonium in the body enables the comparison of transfer rates to validate the biokinetic models currently in use for internal dosimetry purposes. The V-D of a substance describes the distribution between intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments, providing information such as cellular uptake and protein binding. The V-D time profiles and values found using the Durbin data were consistent with known behavior of plutonium. The V-D values found using data provided by LRRI were not consistent with known behavior of plutonium; however, the V-D time profiles generated may still be of use for PBPK modeling.