WHOLE BODY DISTRIBUTION OF 14C SUCCINYLCHOLINE IN THE FOETO-PLACENTAL UNIT OF NEAR-TERM MACACA MULATTA MONKEYS

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Abstract
In eight near-term Macaca mulatta monkeys 14C succinyldicholine hydroiodide was injected into the umbilical vein without exposing the foetus. At different time intervals thereafter Caesarean section was performed and the foeto-placental unit was deep-frozen immediately. The distribution of succinyldicholine and its metabolites was studied by whole body autoradiography, high voltage electrophoresis and liquid scintillation counting of plasma, amniotic fluid and homogenates of different organs and tissues and densitometry of the radiograms. The highest concentrations were found in the richly perfused organs. A marked affinity for cartilaginous tissues was observed. This is thought to be due to a high content of mucopolysaccharides. The drug was almost completely absent in brain and cerebrospinal fluid. The metabolism of succinyldicholine was found to occur almost exclusively in the intravascular space.