Possibility of Whole Body Activation Autoradiography

Abstract

A new autoradio graphic technique of “whole body activation autoradiography” was developed to utillize whole body autoradiographic techniques in studies of non-radioactive materials.
This technique is expected to be useful in several area of biological research. However, several difficult problemes associated with interference from induced radioactivities in natural occurring elements in the specimen remain to be solved.
Target elements such as Au, Mn, Hg, As, Pr and Eu were given to mice and rats. Freeze-dried whole body sections were irradiated by neutron in the reactor those neutron flux is 4.0×10¹²n/sec/cm² in pneumatic tube. The activated specimens were placed in contact with X-ray film after adequate cooling.
Results showed that the whole body activation autoradiography would be applicable in practical purpose under the limited condition of well selected materials and well designed irradiation and cooling.
Several factors which influence minimum detectable amounts were discussed.