The excretion of digitoxin

Abstract

By noting the reaction of embryonic duck hearts to solutions containing digitoxin, it is possible to detect as little as 2 micrograms of digitoxin in 24-hour urine samples of rats and of human subjects. Rats were given large doses of digitoxin intraperitoneally and their 24-hour urine production collected. A minimal quantity of digitoxin was detected in the urine. A minimal quantity of digitoxin was detected in the first three 24-hour urine samples of human subjects given 1.2 mg. of digitoxin. These results show that by this method the measurable urinary excretion of digitoxin in the rat and in human subjects is small.