METABOLISM OF NICKEL CARBONYL-14C

The metabolic fate of the carbonyl moiety of nickel carbonyl was investigated in rats after intravenous injection of 1 LD50 of Ni(14CO)4 or 63Ni(CO)4. It was found that 36% of the administered nickel carbonyl was exhaled without metabolic alteration within 6 hours after injection. Most of the remaining Ni(CO)4 underwent intracellular decomposition and oxidation to Ni2+ and CO. The carbon monoxide, which was gradually released from Ni(CO)4, became bound to hemoglobin, reaching a maximum saturation of 35% 2 hours after injection. Within 6 hours after injection, 49% of administered 14C radioactivity was exhaled as 14CO. Only 1.1% of the administered 14C radioactivity was exhaled as 14CO2. Less than 1% of the administered 14C radioactivity was excreted in urine during 24 hours after injection of Ni(14CO)4. © 1969.