The influence of sex, age and heritability on human skeletal muscle carnosine content

The dipeptide carnosine is found in high concentrations in human skeletal muscle and shows large inter-individual differences. Sex and age are determining factors, however, systematic studies investigating the sex effects on muscle carnosine content throughout the human lifespan are lacking. Despite the large inter-individual variation, the intra-individual variation is limited. The question may be asked whether the carnosine content is a muscle characteristic which may be largely genetically determined. A total of 263 healthy male and female subjects of 9-83 years were divided into five different age groups: prepubertal children (PC), adolescents (A), young adults (YA), middle adults (MA) and elderly (E). We included 25 monozygotic and 22 dizygotic twin pairs among the entire study population to study the heritability. The carnosine content was measured non-invasively in the gastrocnemius medialis and soleus by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). In boys, carnosine content was significantly higher (gastrocnemius 22.9%; soleus 44.6%) in A compared to PC, while it did not differ in girls. A decrease (~16%) was observed both in males and females from YA to MA. However, elderly did not have lower carnosine levels in comparison with MA. Higher correlations were found in monozygotic (r=0.86) compared to dizygotic (r=0.51) twins, in soleus muscle, but not in gastrocnemius. In conclusion, this study found an effect of puberty on muscle carnosine content in males, but not in females. Muscle carnosine decreased mainly during early adulthood and hardly from adulthood to elderly. High intra-twin correlations were observed, but muscle-dependent differences preclude clear conclusions toward heritability.     

Determination of copper, manganese and zinc in human liver

Autopsied liver tissue samples collected from 42 males and 31 females were analyzed for copper, manganese and zinc using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). With the exception of two liver samples for which the copper levels were determined to be 74.8 and 104.0 g/g (dry weight), hepatic copper concentrations were found to range from 1.7 to 32.4 g/g with a mean concentration of 14.2 g/g and standard deviation of 7.0 g/g. Manganese concentrations (with the exception of one sample having 12.9 g/g) ranged from 0.22 to 4.6 g/g with a mean of 2.26 ± 1.00 g/g. Hepatic zinc levels averaged 118.3 ± 44.4 g/g and ranged from 38.5 to 231.3 g/g. There were no apparent trends for the levels of any metals versus age nor were there any differences in average hepatic metal concentrations for males and females. © Rapid Science 1998.     

Maternal and neonatal scalp hair concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead

Postpartum scalp hair samples from 82 term-pregnancy mother/neonate pairs were analyzed for their concentration of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Maternal and neonatal Zn concentrations had geometric means (and 99% confidence intervals) of 122.5 μg/g (117.9–131.5 μg/g) and 146.9 μg (141.5–156.7 μg/g) respectively. Corresponding Cu values were 18.4 μg/g (17.6–23.8 μg/g) and 6.7 μg/g (6.3–7.6 μg/g). Those of Cd were 0.49 μg/g (0.47–0.69 μg/g) in the mothers and 0.57 μg/g (0.55–0.86 μg/g) in the neonates. For Pb, they were 7.95 μg/g (7.60–9.32 μg/g) and 4.56 μg/g (4.39–5.56 μg/g). Cigaret smoking, despite its relatively low prevalence (19.5%), was associated with lower Zn and higher Cd and Pb concentrations and in lower Zn/Cd and Zn/Pb molar concentration ratios. Smoking also altered interelemental relationships, particularly those of Zn with Cd and Pb and those between Cd and Pb. Smoking frequency appeared to show negative dose-response effects on maternal and neonatal Zn concentrations, Zn/Pb molar concentration ratios, and birth weight. Mothers with a history of oral contraceptive (OC) usage had significantly higher Cu concentrations and lower Zn/Cu molar concentration ratios than nonusers, with the highest Cu concentrations and lowest Zn/Cu values being associated with third-generation OCs. No similar effects were elicited in the respective neonatal Cu concentrations. Neither alcohol consumption nor prenatal supplementation with iron and/or folic acid had discernible effects on the maternal or neonatal elemental concentrations. The data from this study suggest that in a given population of term-pregnancy mothers and neonates, significant interindividual variations in hair trace element concentrations can occur, irrespective of commonality of general environment, and that lifestyle factors, including cigaret smoking and OC usage history, can be significant contributory factors to such variations. The data are discussed in relation to the effects of smoking-associated exposure to Cd and Pb exposure on Zn availability for placental transfer, as well as on the quantitative maternal Zn supply levels to the fetus resulting from the known tendency of smokers to have lower dietary intakes of Zn. The higher Cu concentrations in OC users are discussed in relation to altered Cu metabolism, characterized by increased synthesis of the Cu-binding protein, ceruloplasmin, as an acute-phase antioxidant response to altered lipid profile and increased lipid oxidation.     

The effects of age,sex, and zinc status on the accumulation of (copper,zinc)-metallothionein in rat kidneys

A study has been made of the distribution of copper in the kidneys of growing rats. Renal copper concentrations increased steadily with age and were greater in female than in male animals. Most of the copper was present as (copper, zinc)-metallothionein and two forms of this protein were isolated and characterized from the kidneys of mature female rats. That copper metabolism in kidneys is subject to hormonal influence was indicated by a reduction in the concentrations of copper and (copper, zinc)-metallothionein in ovariectomized rats and by an increase in their concentrations after the administration of progesterone. Concentrations of renal (copper, zinc)-metallothionein were less in zinc-deficient than in zinc-adequate rats during pregnancy and after progesterone administration.     

Determination of copper and zinc levels in human hair

The Cu and Zn levels of both 607 men (1–85 y old) and 649 women (1–92 y old) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Sex does not influence Cu (14.89±0.89 μg/g and 15.26±0.79 μg/g hair for males and females, respectively) and Zn contents (200.97±9.68 μg/g for men and 209.81±9.49 μg/g hair for women). Age influences Cu and Zn concentrations, but only significantly in females: Cu levels decrease over 60 y of age; whereas Zn levels increase significantly from age groups 2–5 to 20–40 years. Hair color influences Cu concentrations in both males and females. In males, white hair containes less Cu than black hair; in females, white hair's Cu levels are significantly lower than those of dark blond, red, light brown, and brown hair. There are no significant differences in Zn concentrations with respect to different hair colors, in either males or females.     

The influence of zinc,copper, iron and manganese on the mycological production of citric acid in surface cultures

Summary When analytical reagent grade chemicals were used in the preparation of the fermentation medium for citric acid production, enrichment with zinc was found to be essential for establishing, good acid production addition of manganese on the other hand, was found to be inhibitory. Slight inhibition or no effect was obtained on addition of copper and iron respectively.A Greeting to the 70th Birthday of Prof. Dr. A. Rippel-Baldes.     

Cadmium,nickel, copper,and zinc influence on microfilament organization in Arabidopsis root cells

The plant cytoskeleton orchestrates such fundamental processes in cells as division, growth and development, polymer cross-linking, membrane anchorage, etc. Here, we describe the influence of Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ on root development and vital organization of actin filaments into different cells of Arabidopsis thaliana line expressing GFP-FABD2. CdSO₄, NiSO₄, CuSO₄, and ZnSO₄ were used in concentrations of 5–20 µM in this study. It was found that Cd, Ni, and Cu cause dose-dependent primary root growth inhibition and alteration of the root morphology, whereas Zn slightly stimulates root growth and does not affect the morphology of Arabidopsis roots. This growth inhibition/stimulation correlated with the various sensitivities of microfilaments to Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn action. It was established that Cd, Ni, and Cu affected predominantly the actin filaments of meristematic cells. Cells of transition and elongation zones demonstrated strong actin filament sensitivity to Cd and Cu. Microfilaments of elongating root cells were more sensitive to Ni and Cu. Although Cd, Ni, and Cu stimulated root hair growth after long-term treatment, actin filaments were destroyed after 1 h exposure with these metals. Zn did not disrupt native actin filament organization in root cells. Thus, our investigation shows that microfilaments act as sensitive cellular targets for Cd, Ni, and Cu. More data on effects on native actin filaments organization would contribute to a better understanding of plant tolerance mechanisms to the action of these metals.     

Cadmium and lead toxicity effects on zinc, copper, nickel and iron distribution in the developing chick embryo

The teratologic effects on chicken embryos induced by the load of 100 micrograms of cadmium or lead nitrate salts injected into the yolk on day 5 of incubation as well as their effects upon zinc, copper, nickel and iron distribution were studied. Despite a significant teratologic influence of lead, cadmium administration did not induce significant effects. A week after injections, embryo lead content, but not cadmium concentration, increased; this differential action suggested an active uptake of lead by the embryo, not observed for cadmium. Both cadmium and lead affected significantly the iron, copper and zinc homeostasis in the egg. Cadmium induced these changes probably through alterations in the metallic ion transport processes towards the embryo.     

The influence of cadmium,copper, lead,and zinc on the distribution and evolution of metallophytes in the British Isles

Mine spoils and other soils contaminated with cadmium, copper, lead and zinc show natural colonization by species which have strategies of avoidance or tolerance of metal toxicities. The distribution of plants on such substrata in the British Isles is examined in the light of present knowledge of such strategies. Evolutionary processes mediating the selection of tolerant individuals and ecotypic differentiation of adapted populations on metalliferous soils are considered. Other factors determining which species can and which cannot evolve tolerance include constitutional differences in species sensitivity to toxic metals, and phenotypic (environmentally-induced) tolerances. The importance of constitutional properties and phenotypic responses in providing explanations for plant distribution on metalliferous soils is assessed.     

Copper,iron, manganese,and zinc content of hair from two populations of rhesus monkeys

The concentrations of the elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in hair of caged (in Maryland) and freeranging (in Puerto Rico) rhesus monkey populations were determined. Significant chronological age-related decreases were evident for the trace elements Mn and Zn in both populations (P<0.01) and for Cu and Fe in free-ranging monkeys (P<0.005). The only overall gender difference was higher hair Mn concentration in freeranging males than in females (P<0.03). There were no significant differences in hair Cu, Fe, or Mn related to pregnancy status. Hair Zn was lower in samples from pregnant than from nonpregnant monkeys from the caged monkeys (P≤0.05), but did not differe in the freeranging monkeys. Comparison of the two populations revealed that hair Zn levels were significantly higher in caged vs free-ranging animals (P<0.001). We attribute this higher hair Zn in the caged monkeys to contact and ingestion of Zn from their galvanized enclosures. Hair iron levels were significantly higher (P<0.001) in free-ranging monkeys, possibly as a result of Fe-rich soil ingestion from their environment. These data support continued investigation of the use of hair as an indicator of the exposure of large groups or populations to potentially high levels of specific minerals, and the use of nonhuman primates as models for the study of trace element deficiency and/or toxicity in humans. Prelliminary reports of portions of these data were presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, April 1982, New Orleans, LA (B. M. Marriott, J. C. Smith, R. Jacobs, A. O. Jones, M. J. Kessler, and R. Rawlins,Fed. Proc. 41:770, [1982]) and in a symposium at the 6th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, 1983, East Lansing, MI (B. Marriott, J. C. Smith, R. Jacobs, A. O. Lee Jones, R. Rawlins, and M. J. Kessler,Am. J. Primatol. 4(3): 157 [1983]; B. Marriott, J. C. Smith, Jr., R. M. Jacobs, A. O. Lee Jones, R. Rawlins, and M. J. Kessler, inThe Cayo Santiago Macaques, R. Rawlins and M. J. Kessler, eds., SUNY Press, Albany, NY, pp. 219–231 [1986]).     

Calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, silicon and zinc content of hair in Parkinson's disease.

The aetiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is still unknown, but some hypotheses have focused on the imbalances in body levels of metals as co-factors of risk. To assess whether hair could be a reliable marker of possible changes, calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) were determined in hair from 81 patients affected by PD and 17 age-matched controls. Care was taken to eliminate external contamination of the hair by thorough washing. Digestion of the matrix was achieved by an acid-assisted microwave procedure. Quantification of the elements was performed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Results indicated significantly lower levels of Fe in the hair of patients (p=0.018) compared with controls. Ca and Mg levels were slightly lower while Zn levels were higher in patients, although these differences were not significant; neither were variations in Cu and Si. Ca and Mg were at least 1.5 times higher in females than in males in both controls and patients. In addition, Ca correlated positively with Mg in both groups and in both sexes (p-value always less than 0.03), and negatively with age in patients (p<0.01). Finally, element levels did not correlate with either the duration or the severity of the disease or with anti-Parkinson treatment.     

Age- and sex-related differences in zinc and lead levels in human hair

The hair of 1518 healthy subjects between newborn and 70 yr old living in Linfen city and the surrounding rural area in Shanxi province, North China, was analyzed by means of a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer method in order to determine the concentrations of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). The collected samples were subdivided on the basis of age, sex, and place of residence (urban and rural). In female hair, the contents of Zn were higher than in male, but the hair Pb concentrations of males were slightly higher than those of females. Age seems to have a different influence on the two elements. The maximum amount of hair Zn was found generally in newborns. From the baby group (<1 yr) to the puberty group (15–19 yr), Zn levels in hair increased with age, and then Zn levels decreased with age from the puberty group to elderly group (61–70 yr). The hair Pb levels were the lowest in newborns, increased with age from newborn to infant (1–2 yr), and then decreased with age from infant to the elderly. It was shown that the hair Pb and Zn levels were inversely related in various age groups, suggesting that there is possibly antagonism between Pb and Zn in the human body. The results also showed the hair Pb levels of subjects living in the urban area, except for newborns, were higher than those of subjects residing in the rural area. However, no difference between the hair Zn contents of the populations residing in urban and rural areas.     

Effects of copper, lead and zinc on phytoplankton growth

Impact of Cu, Pb and Zn on the growth of Closterium acerosum, Pediastrum simplex, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus quadricauda was studied in vitro. At concentration 0.1 g m-3 these metals were not toxic, however, at concentration 10.0 g m-3 the growth of phytoplankton was inhibited. Cu was the most toxic followed by Pb and Zn. S. quadricauda expressed highest tolerance to these metals, and least tolerance was exhibited by C. acerosum. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of malathion,diazinon, and various concentrations of zinc,copper, nickel,lead, iron,and mercury on fish

Acute and chronic toxicity tests for malathion, diazinon, copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were conducted. Mortalities ofBarilius vagra andCyprinus carpio (common carp) were variable but LC50-96 hr were similar for pesticides. AdultB. vagra seem to be more sensitive to malathion than juvenile carp. Both juvenile carp and adultB. vagra were extremely sensitive to diazinon. Long-term exposure to pesticides modified morphology and behavior. The LC50-96 values for Cu, Hg, and Pb were 0.3, 0.16, and 0.44, respectively, for smaller fish and 1.0, 0.77, and 1.33, respectively, for larger fish. Replicate LC50 values for Zn, Ni, and Fe were somewhat variable, and for these metals, the size of the fish seemed to affect response because LC50 values increased as fish size increased. Cooper, Pb, Zn, and Fe residues following exposure to sublethal concentrations of these metals for 15 d were significantly greater in whole juvenile common carp than in controls.     

Phytoextraction of zinc, copper, nickel and lead from a contaminated soil by different species of Brassica

In a pot culture experiment, five different species of Brassica (Brassica juncea, Brassica campestris, Brassica carinata, Brassica napus, and Brassica nigra) were grown for screening possible accumulators of heavy metals, viz. Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb. The plants were grown to maturity in a soil irrigated with sewage effluents for more than two decades in West Delhi, India. The soil analysis showed enhanced accumulation of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb in this sewage-irrigated soil. Among all species, B. carinata showed the highest concentration (mg kg(-1)) as well as uptake (microg pot(-1)) of Ni and Pb at maturity. Although B. campestris showed a higher concentration of Zn in its shoots (stem plus leaf), B. carinata extracted the largest amount of this metal due to greater biomass production. However, B. juncea phytoextracted the largest amount of Cu from the soil. In general, the highest concentration and uptake of metal was observed in shoots compared to roots or seeds of the different species. Among the Brassica spp., B. carinata cv. DLSC1 emerged as the most promising, showing greater uptake of Zn, Ni, and Pb, while B. juncea cv. Pusa Bold showed the highest uptake of Cu. The B. napus also showed promise, as it ranked second with respect to total uptake of Pb, Zn, and Ni, and third for Cu. Total uptake of metals by Brassica spp. correlated negatively with available as well as the total soil metal concentrations. Among the root parameters, root length emerged as the powerful parameter to dictate the uptake of metals by Brassica spp. Probably for the first time, B. carinata was reported as a promising phytoextractor for Zn, Ni, and Pb, which performed better than B. juncea.