[D-PENICILLAMINE-C-14 - UPTAKE AND DISTRIBUTION IN RAT LYMPHOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES

[14C]-d-Penicillamine rapidly enters the lymphocytes and freely diffuses out of the cells. Peak levels of radioactivity were found in lymphocytes after 15 min of incubation with [14C]-d-penicillamine and no cell associated label was found after 2 hr of incubation. The macrophages take up [14C]-d-penicillamine in a manner dependent on the drug concentration (range from 50 to 500 μg/ml) and on the duration of incubation (up to 24 hr). The drug is firmly bound to macrophages as 40 per cent of the label is still cell associated after 24 hr culture in drug-free medium. The bulk of radioactivity is membrane associated. The uptake of [14C]-d-penicillamine is significantly increased in NaIO4 pretreated macrophages. © 1979.