Behaviour of Spherical and Irregular (U,Pu)O2Particles after Inhalation or Intratracheal Instillation in Rat Lung and duringin VitroCulture with Bovine Alveolar Macrophages

Abstract
Spherical and irregularly shaped mixed (U,Pu) oxide particles were administered to rats by inhalation and by intratracheal instillation. The lung retention of the particles was independent of particle shape and of the route of administration. Only a small percentage of the administered radioactivity was found in other organs. Detailed electron microscopic studies showed particles within membrane-enclosed vacuoles as well as lying free in the cytoplasm.