Intestinal absorption of tellurium studied with stable tracers

An investigation on tellurium metabolism by administration of stable tellurium isotopes 124Te and 126Te has been performed. Fractional intestinal absorption was determined in rabbits by the double tracer technique. The investigated subjects were given an enriched solution of one tellurium isotope orally and a few minutes later an enriched solution of the other isotope intravenously. The 124Te and 126Te contents in plasma samples were determined by proton nuclear activation. The methodology described offers a means to study tellurium metabolism in humans without radiation risk.