Figure 3: Concentrations of Sb determined in the liver, spleen and bone marrow of dogs with VL, 24 h after intravenous administration of liposomal or free meglumine antimoniate. Dogs received small size liposomes (Lip 175, 6.5 mg Sb/kg), medium size liposomes (Lip 400, 4.2 mg Sb/kg) or the free drug (100 mg Sb/kg). Blood samples were collected at different time intervals for determination of Sb by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Data are given as mean ± SD (n = 3-5). *P<0.05 for comparison of Sb levels in liver between Lipo 175 and Lipo 400 (Mann-Whitney test). In the spleen and bone marrow, no significant difference was found between both liposome formulations. The free drug showed significantly lower Sb levels in all organs when compared to Lipo 400.