Silver gastrointestinal tract

Silver EH, Szabo S. 1982. Possible role of lipid peroxidation in the actions of acrylonitrile on the adrenals, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 36 33-43. 

Szabo S, Gallagher GT, Silver EH, et al. 1984. Subacute and chronic action of acrylonitrile on adrenals and gastrointestinal tract Biochemical, functional and ultrastructural studies in the rat. J Appl Toxicol 4 131-140. 

Szabo, S., Gallagher, G.T., Silver, E.H., Maull, E.A., Horner, H.C., Komanicky, P, Melby, J.C., McComb, D.J. Kovacs, K. (1984) Subacute and chronic action of acrylonitrile on adrenals and gastrointestinal tract biochemical, functional and ultrastructural studies in the rat. J. appl. Toxicol., 4, 131-140... 

The extent of absorption of an administered dose has been found to be associated with transit time through the gastrointestinal tract the authors report that this may explain some of the interspecies differences in silver retention observed 1 week after exposure (see Table 2-3). The faster the transit time, the less silver is absorbed (Furchner et al. 1968). Transit times vary from about 8 hours in the mouse and rat to approximately 24 hours in the monkey, dog, and human (Furchner et al. 1968). 

Silver removal from the liver by biliary excretion was demonstrated by Scott and Flamilton (1950). Control rats and rats with ligated bile ducts were administered radioactive metallic silver by intramuscular injection. In rats with ligated bile ducts, excretion of silver in the feces was 19%, compared to 97% in controls. Deposition in the liver of rats with ligated bile ducts was 48% and 2.5% in the gastrointestinal tract compared to 0.36% and 1.12%, respectively in the controls (Scott and Flamilton 1950). Klaassen (1979b) determined that biliary excretion accounted for between 24% and 45% of the silver administered to rats. The concentration of silver in the bile was estimated to be... 

Acute oral exposure to silver nitrate has led to irritation and corrosion in the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, shock, convulsions, and death in humans. Silver or silver nitrate can lead to respiratory irritation with inhalation exposures. Silver nitrate is highly irritating to the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes. Insoluble silver compounds (e.g., silver chloride, silver iodide, and silver oxide) are relatively benign. 

The extent of absorption of an administered dose of silver depends on silver speciation, the presence and extent of silver-binding proteins, and other variables. But absorption is dependent mainly on the transit time through the gastrointestinal tract the faster the transit time, the less silver is absorbed. Transit times ranged from about 8 h in mice and rats to about 24 h in monkeys, dogs, and humans. Route of administration affected the excretion rate of silver. Clearance of silver from mammals 2 days after silver was admmistered intravenously ranged... 

In humans, accidental or intentional ingestion of large doses of silver nitrate has produced corrosive damage of the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, shock, convulsions, and death. 

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