Abstract
The metabolism of dextran, a high mol. wt. polysaccharide, being used as a plasma expander, was studied in mice. After the initial rapid excretion which usually lasts 48_72 hrs., the biological half-life of the C14 with which the dextran was labelled was detd. to be 6.1 days. The incorporation into the lipid and amino acid and protein fractions of the whole carcass was shown. The C of the dextran enters the carbon pool and is eventually distributed evenly throughout the body constituents.