The High Specificity of the Manganese Pathway Through the Body12

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Abstract
A procedure is described which permits observation of the elution of radiomanganese by injected stable metal compounds in intact mice and their tissues. This delineates an area for direct correlations between in vivo and in vitro phenomena. Stable Mn compounds ranging from powdered metal to permanganate were effective eluting agents of the body''s radiomanganese. Injections of stable manganous citrate caused a pronounced change in the isotope''s partition amongst the organs of these mice. Stable members of the first transition group and of group VII of the elements as well as Mg were tested for their capacity to elute the Mn tracer. In spite of injections of large doses, none of these affected the animal''s normal rate of elimination of radiomanganese. Chromous and ferrous citrates failed to cause deviations from the normal partition of Mn54 in the body. The hypothesis is proposed that there exists a specific segment in the pathway of Mn through the body. The specificity displayed by the Mn pathway is compared with the apparent lack of specificity illustrated by the in vivo displacement of bromide by chloride, of molybdenum by tungsten, of strontium by calcium and others. One common metabolic difference between these elements and Mn is noted: the route of excretion. This is entirely fecal for Mn and primarily renal for the other elements cited.