Tissue silicon: a study of the ethanol-soluble fraction, using 31Si

Abstract

After injn. into rats of silicate solns. containing Si31, muscular tissue retains the least Si31, kidney tissue the most. After drying the tissues a part of the Si31 can be extracted in ethanol, dioxan or (less effectively) ethyl acetate and ether. The ethanol-soluble Si is probably present in micelles having organic groups adsorbed on silicic acid polymers. The greater part of the Si31 in the kidney occurs as inorganic silicate which is not extracted by organic solvents. A part of the Si31 is associated with the tissue, but is not soluble in ethanol.