Reducing Fetal Contamination of Radiostronium by Water Soluble Chitosan

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether water soluble chitosan, a natural nontoxic chelator, can reduce fetal contamination of radiostrontium in pregnant mice. Various forms of water soluble chitosans (10% or 1% powder, or 1% solution) were given to pregnant mice before or after contamination of 0.005 uCi/B.W(g) Sr-85. Transplacental transfer of Sr-85 to fetus was $6.8{\pm}2.7%$ of injected dose, when Sr-85 was administered at the 20th day of pregnancy. Fetal radioactivity was significantly reduced when mother mice were treated with water soluble chitosan before contamination of Sr-85. Water soluble chitosans of 10% or 1% powder, or 1% solution significantly reduced fetal retention of Sr-85 to $2.3{\pm}0.7%$, $2.7{\pm}0.8%$, and $2.0{\pm}0.9%$, respectively. However, fetal contamination was not reduced, when water soluble chitosans of 10% or 1% powder, or 1% solution were administered after maternal contamination of Sr-85. From these data we can conclude that water soluble chitosan could reduce fetal contamination of radiostrontium in pregnant mice, when given before the pregnant mice were exposed to radiostrontium.