Nickel II elimination and autoradiographic distribution in normal and nickel-sensitized guinea pigs

Abstract This study investigates the differences in the elimination of 63 Ni (as NiCl 2 ) in normal and nickel-sensitized guinea pigs. The urinary elimination, 72 h after an intracutaneous injection, was significantly diminished in the sensitized animal (55%) compared to the animals used for control (63%). After an oral gavage, the fecal elimination was only significantly slowed down in the Ni-sensitized animals. After an intracutaneous injection, significantly more nickel was retained in the dermis of sensitized guinea pigs than in normal ones. The 24 h autoradiography study after 63 NiCl 2 intracutaneous injection shows a general nickel distribution with a very high activity in the kidney and cartilages. No qualitative difference can be seen between sections of untreated and Ni-sensitized guinea pigs. 24 h after 63 NiCl 2 oral gavage, in both Ni-sensitized and control guinea pig, a high radioactivity is present in the gastrointestinal tract, and in the periarteriolar sheaths of the splenic white pulp.