Figure 5.

Comparison of biliary and intestinal manganese (Mn) excretion. Rats with bile duct and duodenal catheters were intravenously injected with radiotracer Mn (⁵⁴Mn). Graph depicts radioactivity measured from bile and duodenum samples every 10 min for 4 h after radiotracer injection. Overall, biliary ⁵⁴Mn radioactivity accounts for 80%–90% of total radioactivity measured in both segments of the body, indicating the bile as the primary route of Mn excretion. Stable Mn injection ∼150 min after the radiotracer induces a sharp increase in duodenal radioactivity and a more stable increase in biliary radioactivity. From Bertinchamps et al. (22). cpm, counts per minute.