Course of deuteriation and some physiological effects of deuterium in mice

Abstract

The course of deuteriation was followed in mice given various concentrations of D 2 O in the drinking water. Equilibrium deuteriation in the body fluids is 95% attained by the 10th day, and from these values the experimental conditions leading to desired levels of deuteriation in mice are readily specified. The incorporation of deuterium into liver, kidney, and spleen reaches equilibrium by the 3rd week. Incorporation of deuterium into brain is much slower but eventually reaches approximately the same value. Median survival times for mice deuteriated at various D 2 O levels in the drinking water range from 60 days, for mice drinking 40% D 2 O, to 12 days for mice drinking 75% D 2 O.