Abstract
Microautoradiography was employed to show that association of drugs from the serum directly with forming hair pigment is a primary pathway of deposition into the hair. After systemic administration of [3H]flunitrazepam, [3H]nicotine, and [3H]cocaine, association of all three drugs with melanin in the forming hair was observed within minutes of dosage. Sebum was determined to be an insignificant deposition route for all three drugs. Pigmented mice had significantly higher concentrations of all three drugs than did nonpigmented mice. The results provide a better basis for ultimately using hair for reliable analysis of drug and environmental toxin exposure.
Footnotes
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Send reprint requests to: James A. Ruth, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Department of Molecular Toxicology and Environmental Health Science, 4200 E. Ninth Ave., Box C238, Denver CO 80262. E-mail: James.Ruth{at}UCHSC.edu
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Supported by National Institutes Health Grant DA09545
- Abbreviation used is::
- AUC
- area under the curve
- Received November 25, 1998.
- Accepted March 19, 1999.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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