PLACENTAL-TRANSFER AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF DEXTRO-AMPHETAMINE IN MOUSE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 233  (2) , 200-208
Abstract
3H-d-amphetamine (5mg/kg, free base) was injected i.p. to male and non-pregnant female mice and to pregnant female mice on day 16 of gestation. The tissue levels of amphetamine were examined as a function of time. Peak concentrations in matured tissues occurred at 15 min; those in placenta, whole fetus, fetal brain and liver 1 h. No notable differences were detected in tissue levels of amphetamine in males and non-pregnant females. Disappearance of amphetamine from tissues of pregnant animals was slower than that of other groups. At 15 min, the fetal brain and liver accumulated 1/6 amounts of amphetamine compared to corresponding maternal tissues. Pregnant animals excreted significantly lower amount of total radioactivity compared to non-pregnant females. Amphetamine was transported across the placenta, and the lower concentrations in fetal tissues compared to maternal tissues appear to be due to several physico-chemical factors that regulate the transplacental transfer of a foreign chemical compound.