MICROAUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON THE LOCALIZATION OF INJCTED ^<14>C-COENZYME Q IN THE ANIMALS : (I) DISTRIBUTION OF INJECTED ^<14>C-COENZYME Q_7 IN RATS AND MICE

Abstract

A microautoradiographic detection of the injected CoQ_7 in animals has been performed. Two to five mμc/g body weight of ^<14>C-CoQ_7 was administered intraperitoneally in a rat and six mice. The animals were sacrificed at the 24th hour after injection and all organs and tissues were excised and embedded in paraffin as usual. Sliced tissue sections were covered with Sakura NR-M2 nuclear track emulsion and after 4 weeks' exposure they were developed in D-19. Autoradiographic grains were observed mostly in the intestinal contents, and much in the liver parenchymal cells, intestinal epithelium, various exocrine organs (salivary gland and pancreas) and fat tissues. After considering those results, it may be given as a conclusion that the possible route of the absorbed CoQ_7 from the peritoneal cavity will be as follows : from circulation it first goes into the cytoplasma of the liver parenchymal cells, is secreted out with bile and most of them will be discharged with feces. However, some of them will be reabsorbed through intestinal walls into the portal system. A part of the CoQ_7 in the systemic circulations will also be secreted from many exocrine glands such as pancreas and salivary glands. It also has an affinity to bind with fat substances. There is no preferential localization in the endocrine systems such as pancreatic islets.