Effect of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the Hepatic Distribution of Iron,Copper, Zinc,and Magnesium in Rats

The distribution of iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium in hepatic subcellular fractions of male and female rats treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was determined. Animals received 40 μg TCDD per kilogram per day for three days by mouth (PO) or the vehicle and were killed seven or nine days posttreatment. Iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The iron content of liver from female animals was twofold higher than male animals. The administration of TCDD increased the iron content of mitochondria in female and male rats and decreased iron content of microsomes of both sexes. Significant increases occurred in the copper content of whole liver, mitochondria, and cytosol of male rats and in whole liver and cytosol of female rats. Decreases in the copper content of the microsomes of male rats were observed following TCDD treatment; however, TCDD produced no changes in the zinc content of hepatic subcellular fractions of either sex. The magnesium content of female TCDD-treated rats increased in whole liver, mitochondria, and cytosol, while the magnesium content of microsomes was not altered. With respect to the subcellular distribution of iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, TCDD produces differential effects. The altered distribution of some cations may contribute to the broad range of effects of TCDD.     

双峰驼不同生态环境条件下组织中微量元素的分布研究

对砾石和沙质两种不同的荒漠区双峰驼组织中６种微量元素的含量及分布规律进行了研究。结果表明,Ｃｕ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｏ的丰度在肝脏最高,Ｓｅ和Ｚｎ则分别在肾脏和肌肉组织中最高。由于砾石荒漠区土壤和牧草中Ｆｅ、Ｃｕ、Ｍｏ含量极显著高于沙质荒漠区（Ｐ〈０．０１）,导致两地双峰驼肝脏和肾脏Ｃｕ含量差异极显著（Ｐ〈０．０１）．同时发现,上述两地区双峰驼组织中Ｍｎ含量显著低于其他反刍动物。     

Measurement of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron concentrations in hair of pituitary dwarfism patients using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Pituitary dwarfism (hGHD) is known to be associated with trace element deficiency, which causes improper functioning of the involved endocrine system. Previously, we reported on the head hair concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron from a total of 418 normal subjects (154 male and 264 female). In this report, we analyzed the head hair concentrations of the same four trace metals of 103 hGHD children (60 male and 43 female) under treatment with human growth hormone (hGH). These subjects ranged in age from 5 to 18 yr. The results were compared with 338 agematched normal subjects (120 male and 218 female). Both male and female hGHD showed approx 1.7 times higher zinc concentrations than normal subjects. Cheruvanky et al. reported a similar trend but with a slightly lower difference between hGHD and normal subjects. The average copper content in the hair of both male and female subjects also showed higher values for the hGHD than for the normal subjects, a trend similar to the values reported by Teraoka et al. In the case of manganese, the concentrations in hair of the hGHD were approx 50% of the values in the normal subjects. Head hair concentrations of iron in the hGHD were commensurate with the normal subjects. Because the content of trace elements in hair varies with the age of subjects, as a control, we investigated the head hair concentration of zinc from 20 healthy girls ranging in age from 10 to 18 yr. The average zinc concentration decreased from 10 to 12 yr, but no clear relation to age was observed from 13 yr and older. These trends were similar to our previous report. The zinc concentration in hair and body weight gain over a year was negatively correlated. The age variation in the content of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron in hair was measured comparing hGHD with the normal subjects in various ages. Concerning the zinc-level variation of hGHD and normal subjects, there were conspicuous differences between hGHD and normal subjects. For copper, the variations in concentration with age were similar to zinc. Regarding the age variations for manganese, hGHD had lower concentrations in hair compared to the normal subjects throughout adolescence (11–18 yr). We have studied the effects between the hair and these trace element concentrations in hGHD before and after hGH administration. These results suggest that hGH affects the metabolism of these trace elements.     

Trace elements status in multinodular goiter

Importance of iodine and selenium in thyroid metabolism is well known, but the roles of other essential trace elements including copper, zinc, manganese and iron on thyroid hormone homeostasis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of those trace elements in benign thyroid diseases and evaluate possible links between trace element concentrations and thyroid hormones.The study group was composed of 25 patients with multinodular goiter. Concentrations of thyroid hormones (plasma-free thyroxine, FT₄; free triiodothyronine, FT₃; and thyrotropin, TSH), selenium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron in plasma, and urinary iodine were determined. The results were compared with those of a healthy control group (n=20) with no thyroid disorder.A mild iodine deficiency was observed in the patients with multinodular goiter whereas urinary iodine levels were in the range of “normal” values in healthy controls. All patients were euthyroid, and their thyroid hormone concentrations were not significantly different from the control group. Plasma selenium, zinc and iron concentrations did not differ from controls, while copper and manganese levels were found to be significantly higher in the patients with multinodular goiter indicating links between these trace elements and thyroid function and possibly in development of goiter. Besides iodine, there was a significant correlation between plasma copper concentration and FT₃/FT₄ ratio.     

Assessment of trace elements in human brain using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Recent brain research reveals a major role of trace elements in various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Wilson's disease. The majority of published tissue concentrations dates back decades, and was assessed with various methods. Little is known about hemispherical differences, the correlation of trace elements or age-dependent changes in the human brain. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine trace element concentrations in different human brain regions after whole brain formalin fixation.549 samples of 13 brain regions were investigated in 11 deceased subjects without known history of brain pathology. Regional wet-to-dry mass ratios and concentrations of iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, calcium and zinc were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Cortical gray matter revealed higher water content (wet-to-dry mass ratios 5.84–6.40) than white matter regions (wet-to-dry mass ratios 2.95–3.05). Element concentrations displayed specific regional differences. Good linear correlation of concentrations between elements was found for iron/copper as well as for manganese/magnesium (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.74 and 0.65, respectively). Significant inter-hemispherical differences were found for copper in occipital white matter, for magnesium and calcium in putamen and for iron and copper in temporal white matter. An age dependent increase was seen in cortical gray matter for calcium, for magnesium in all regions except in cortical gray matter, for copper in substantia nigra and for zinc in occipital cortex.The presented trace element concentrations can serve as a fundamental basis for further brain research. Wet-to-dry mass ratios allow a comparison with reference data from other studies.     

Comparative studies of elemental composition on ejaculated fowl, bull, rat, dog and boar spermatozoa by electron probe X-ray microanalysis

1. Comparative analyses of the concentrations of bulk and trace elements on the head, midpiece and tail regions of the ejaculated fowl, bull, rat, dog and boar spermatozoa were performed using X-ray microanalysis with scanning electron microscopy. 2. Although the pattern of distribution of elements on the surface of the three different subcellular regions was, in general, similar among all the species, there were substantial shifts in absolute concentrations. 3. Concentration of magnesium on the dog spermatozoa was significantly higher (about 2 times) than those of the other species. 4. Zinc, copper, iron and manganese concentrations were higher on fowl spermatozoa compared with those of the other species studied. 5. The Na-to-K ratios on the midpiece ranged from 1.46 (rat) to 2.26 (dog).     

Trace element uptake by L-cells as a function of trace elements in a synthetic growth medium

The concentration of trace elements in L-cells has been studied as a function of the trace metal content of the growth medium. Cells were cultured in synthetic media which contained varying trace amounts of the elements manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc and molybdenum. The cellular concentration of the elements potassium, iron, copper and zinc were then determined. It was found that the cell accumulates trace metals at a different rate than they are made available. Deficiencies in zinc could be “induced” in the cell by increasing the concentration of iron, manganese and cobalt; cellular iron deficiencies were observed at larger medium concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt. Trace metal uptake by the cell was seen to parallel the utilization by multicellular organisms.     

Changes in trace element concentrations in hair of growing children

Head hair concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese, and iron from a total of 418 subjects (154 male and 264 female) aged between 6 mo and 20 yr were measured mainly with flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Only zinc analysis of a part of the female samples (n=140) were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The two analytical methods showed close agreement. The mean concentration of copper and manganese were significantly higher in male subjects than in female subjects. The trace element concentrations in hair varied with the subject’s age. Zinc concentration in hair decreased from 6 mo to 14 yr in the male subjects and decreased from 6 mo to 12 yr in the female subjects. Then, the concentrations increased gradually to 20 yr in the both sexes. Age-dependent variations of copper and manganese concentrations in hair showed similar trends to those of zinc. The results of this study suggest that a higher concentration in the diet of these trace elements may be required for growing children, especially in the period of adolescence.     

Aspects of trace element interactions during development

The origins of nutritional trace element deficiencies are summarized. Inadequate intake results in primary deficiency, whereas secondary or conditioned deficiencies can arise in several ways including trace element interactions. Evidence is presented and discussed for interactions of essential trace elements during prenatal and early postnatal development. Diets of widely different zinc and copper concentrations and ratios were fed to pregnant rats. Analysis of fetal outcome and copper and zinc concentrations of maternal and fetal livers showed that although there is an interaction between these metals it occurs only at levels of dietary copper deficiency. Iron and manganese interact so that high levels of one depress absorption of the other. Mice fed iron-supplemented diets had liver manganese concentrations lower than those of unsupplemented mice. Iron supplements at high but not low levels also depressed absorption of zinc. Conversely, zinc deficiency in pregnant rats caused higher than normal concentrations of iron in maternal and fetal liver. Trace element analyses of proprietary infant formulas indicate that in some, concentrations and ratios of these trace elements may be incorrect. The effects of essential trace element interactions during development should be further investigated. Caution is urged in considering levels of trace element supplements during pregnancy, lactation, or early childhood.     

The effect of physico-chemical parameters on speciation of trace metals insediments from inland and coastal waters of Ghana

The speciation of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, manganese and iron into exchangeable, carbonate, reducible and organic bound fractions was studied in sediments from coastal and freshwater environments in Ghana. This was relevant as the species in which metals are stored within specific sediment components is important in determining their impact on the environment. For both coastal and inland sediments, a higher percentage of cadmium was associated with the more available exchangeable and carbonate fractions, while iron, zinc and manganese were mainly associated with the reducible and organic fractions. Lead and copper were found to have the greatest ability to form different species in the samples examined and were more evenly associated with all the fractions. The metals generally showed more ability to form different species in inland freshwaters than in coastal relatively saline waters. However, differences between inland and coastal waters were based more on whether the environments were oxidising or reducing than on whether they were fresh or saline. The metals may be divided into three groups of high mobility consisting of lead and copper; moderate mobility made up of cadmium, manganese and zinc; and low mobility, represented by iron.     

Copper accumulation in the soluble and particulate fractions of renal cortex in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat

The accumulation and subcellular distribution of copper in the kidney of streptozotocin-diabetic rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body wt on two consecutive days) intraperitoneally and were fed either commercial or purified diet. The concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese present in intact kidney, renal cortex, and renal medulla were compared at various times. Chow-fed diabetic rats had a renal copper concentration 2.6 times greater than age-matched controls after 2 weeks. The concentration of zinc was only 30% higher in diabetic kidney than in control tissue, whereas the iron and manganese concentrations were similar for both groups. The additional complement of renal copper was localized entirely in the cortex and was significantly reduced by oral treatment with penicillamine, a copper chelating agent. When diabetic rats were fed purified diet (15-20 ppm Cu), the quantity of copper accumulated in the renal cortex increased from 2.3 to 8.7-fold higher than in control tissue from 1 to 4 weeks, respectively, after injection with streptozotocin. Copper levels in. both the soluble and particulate (165, 000g pellet) fractions of diabetic renal cortex were similarly increased at each time. Gel filtration Chromatographic analysis of the cytosol showed that all of the copper accumulated in the soluble fraction was associated with metallothionein. The distribution of excess copper in the particulate fraction was determined by differential centrifugation. The additional quantity of metal was localized in the crude nuclear fraction of renal cortex in the diabetic rat. Further analysis revealed that the lysosomal fraction from 3-weeek diabetic rats had a copper level 16-fold higher than in the controls. The possibility that accumulation of excessive levels of copper in the streptozotocin-diabetic kidney may contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy is discussed.     

Trace Elements in the Hair of Hemodialysis Patients

Trace element disturbance is often observed in hemodialysis patients. While trace element concentrations have been reported in blood samples from hemodialysis patients, they have not been well investigated in scalp hair. In the present study, 22 trace elemental concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry in the scalp hair of 80 male hemodialysis patients and compared with those of 100 healthy male subjects. In hemodialysis patients, the concentrations of beryllium, arsenic, magnesium, chromium, manganese, iron, selenium, molybdenum, iodine, vanadium, and cobalt were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects, while lead, mercury, copper, germanium, and bromine were significantly lower than those in the former group. No significant differences were observed for lithium, aluminum, cadmium, zinc, boron, or nickel. There were significant positive correlations between the duration of hemodialysis and the magnesium and manganese concentrations. There was a significant negative correlation between cadmium concentration and the duration of hemodialysis. There were significant positive correlations between dialysis efficacy (Kt/V) and magnesium, manganese, zinc, and selenium concentrations. In conclusion, trace element concentrations of the scalp hair are different between hemodialysis patients and healthy subjects. Essential trace elements, such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, and selenium, may be affected by the duration of hemodialysis and Kt/V.     

Effects of Selenium on Liver and Muscle Contents and Urinary Excretion of Zinc,Copper, Iron and Manganese

Selenium is a main component of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), a key antioxidant enzyme. Other elements, such as zinc, copper, manganese and iron, are also involved in the pathogenesis of oxidative damage as well as in other important metabolic pathways. The effects of selenium supplementation on the metabolism of these elements have yield controversial results .The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of selenium supplementation on liver, muscle and urinary excretion of zinc, copper, iron and manganese in a situation of oxidative stress, such as protein deficiency. The experimental design included four groups of adult male Sprague–Dawley rats, which received the Lieber–DeCarli control diet, an isocaloric 2 % protein-containing diet and another similar two groups to which selenomethionine (6 mg/l liquid diet) was added. After sacrifice (5 weeks later), muscle, liver and serum selenium were determined, as well as muscle, liver and urinary zinc, copper, manganese and iron and liver GPX activity and liver malondialdehyde. Selenium addition led to decreased liver copper, increased muscle copper, increased copper excretion and increased liver iron, whereas zinc and manganese parameters were essentially unaltered. Muscle, liver and serum selenium were all significantly correlated with liver GPX activity.     

Trace Element Distribution in Selected Edible Tissues of Zebu (Bos indicus) Cattle Slaughtered at Jimma,SW Ethiopia

The amount of trace elements present in edible bovine tissues is of importance for both animal health and human nutrition. This study presents data on trace element concentrations in semitendinosus and cardiac muscles, livers and kidneys of 60 zebu (Bos indicus) bulls, sampled at Jimma, Ethiopia. From 28 of these bulls, blood samples were also obtained. Deficient levels of copper were found in plasma, livers, kidneys and semitendinosus muscles. Suboptimal selenium concentrations were found in plasma and semitendinosus muscles. Semitendinosus muscles contained high iron concentrations. Trace elements were mainly stored in the liver, except for iron and selenium. Cardiac muscles generally contained higher concentrations of trace elements than semitendinous muscles except for zinc. A strong association was found between liver and kidney concentrations of copper, iron, cobalt and molybdenum. Liver storage was well correlated with storage in semitendinosus muscle for selenium and with cardiac muscle for cobalt and selenium. Plasma concentrations of copper, selenium, cobalt were well related with their respective liver concentrations and for cobalt and selenium, also with cardiac muscle concentrations. The data suggest multiple trace element deficiencies in zebu cattle in South-West Ethiopia, with lowered tissue concentrations as a consequence. Based on the comparison of our data with other literature, trace element concentrations in selected edible tissues of Bos indicus seem quite similar to those in Bos taurus. However, tissue threshold values for deficiency in Bos taurus cattle need to be refined and their applicability for Bos indicus cattle needs to be evaluated.     

Heavy metals in relation to the biology of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus

Heavy metal levels of cadmium, copper, mercury, manganese, and zinc were examined in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroditus from industrialized and non-industrialized environments. With one exception, the environment with the highest trace metal in its waters, had the fishes with the highest metal concentration. Except for mercury, the concentration factor varied inversely with the metal concentrations of the fish and water, suggesting a possible regulatory mechanism for metals in the tissues of mummichogs from environments with high metal concentrations. There was an inverse relationship between standard length and concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper and cadmium in whole male and female fishes. The viscera contained significantly greater concentrations of these metals than somatic muscle tissue. There were also significant differences between males and females with respect to whole-body zinc and copper concentrations, but no sex differences for manganese and cadmium.     

Uptake of six heavy metals by oat as influenced by soil type and additions of cadmium,lead, zinc and copper

Summary The influence of heavy metal additions on availability and uptake of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, manganese and iron by oat was studied. The experiments were carried out as pot experiments using sandy loam, sandy soil and organic soil. Selective extractants were used to remove metals held in different soil fractions.Lead and copper were preferently bound by organics and oxides, zinc by oxides and inorganics, and cadmium by inorganics and organics.Addition of cadmium to the soils resulted in higher cadmium concentrations in all plant parts but lower concentrations of lead, zinc, copper, manganese and iron, and the accumulation indexes of these metals were also lower when cadmium was added to the soil.Addition of cadmium plus lead, zinc and copper resulted in higher cadmium concentrations in leaves and straw of plants grown in sandy loam and sandy soil, but lower concentrations when plants were grown in organic soil as compared with the results when cadmium was added separately. The transfer of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper from soil to plant was greatest from sandy soil, and zinc and cadmium were more mobile in the plant than were lead and copper.Cadmium concentrations in leaves correlated significantly with CaCl₂ and CH₃COOH extractions in sandy loam and sandy soil and with CH₃COOH extractions in organic soil.Generally, the total metal uptake was lowest from organic soil.     

Serum concentration of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium in patients with liver cirrhosis

The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and its complications is still not clearly understood. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were determined in 105 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy subjects by means of plasma sequential spectrophotometer. Serum concentrations of zinc were significantly lower (median 0.82 vs. 11.22 micromol/L, p < 0.001) in patients with liver cirrhosis in comparison to controls. Serum concentrations of copper were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (median 21.56 vs. 13.09 micromol/L, p < 0.001) as well as manganese (2.50 vs. 0.02 micromol/L, p < 0.001). The concentration of magnesium was not significantly different between patients with liver cirrhosis and controls (0.94 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, p = 0.132). There were no differences in the concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium between male and female patients with liver cirrhosis. Only manganese concentration was significantly different between Child-Pugh groups (p = 0.036). Zinc concentration was significantly lower in patients with hepatic encephalopathy in comparison to cirrhotic patients without encephalopathy (0.54 vs. 0.96 micromol/L, p = 0.002). The correction of trace elements concentrations might have a beneficial effect on complications and maybe progression of liver cirrhosis. It would be recommendable to provide analysis of trace elements as a routine.     

Interaction of mineral elements in sea water and shell of oysters (Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin)) cultured in controlled and natural systems

The interaction is reported of selected chemical elements (cadmium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, strontium, and zinc) in cultured sea water, with soft tissues, prismatic calcite of the right valve, and foliated calcite of right and left valves of genetically similar American oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) grown in a natural habitat and in two environmentally controlled experimental systems (flow-through and recycle). The addition of trace elements as algal nutrients in ambient sea water was reflected in higher concentrations of trace metals in shells and soft tissues of oysters grown in experimental systems. Calcium was relatively uniformly distributed in major regions of valves from the three habitats, even though its concentration fluctuated widely in sea water in experimental systems. Magnesium and strontium were most concentrated in valves of oysters grown in the recycle system (magnesium in the prismatic layer of the shell and strontium in the foliated calcite). Iron was uniformly distributed. Cadmium, copper, manganese, and zinc were most concentrated in the prismatic calcite of valves from the flow-through system. In soft tissues, calcium was more concentrated in oysters from experimental systems than in those from the natural habitat. Manganese was about equally distributed in soft tissues from the three habitats, whereas copper and iron were more concentrated in soft tissues in experimental systems than in the natural habitat, and were many times more concentrated in soft tissues than in valves from all three habitats. As concentrations of magnesium, strontium, mangenese, zinc, and cadmium increased in valves in experimental systems, pigmentation of valves decreased. The study confirmed the capacity of oysters to concentrate several elements in their valves as concentration of these elements increased in ambient sea water and disclosed the heterogeneous distribution of these elements in major regions of the valves.     

Presence of acute phase changes in zinc, iron, and copper metabolism in turkey embryos

Acute phase changes in trace mineral metabolism were examined in turkey embryos. An endotoxin injection resulted in increased concentrations of serum copper and liver zinc and decreased concentrations of serum zinc in embryos incubated either in ovo or ex ovo. Changes in zinc and copper metabolism occurred when endotoxin either was injected intramuscularly, into the amnionic fluid, or administered onto the chorioallantoic membrane. Unlike poults, embryos did not respond to an inflammatory challenge with decreased serum iron concentrations. Acute phase changes in embryo serum zinc and copper as well as liver zinc concentrations were similar to those in poults. Increased liver zinc concentrations were associated with increased zinc in metallothionein (MT). An injection of a crude interleukin 1 preparation into embryos resulted in similar increases in hepatic zinc and MT concentrations as an endotoxin injection, suggesting a role for this cytokine in mediating the acute phase changes in embryonic zinc metabolism.     

Altered Plasma Concentrations of Trace Elements in Ulcerative Colitis Patients Before and After Surgery

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is a classical surgery for ulcerative colitis patients. However, knowledge on trace element alteration in patients who had undergone this surgery is limited. This study was conducted to assess trace element alteration in patients with ulcerative colitis before and after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Preoperative (40) and postoperative (35) ulcerative colitis patients were studied. The dietary assessment of trace element intake was undertaken by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Patients' trace element status of zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, calcium, iron, and vitamin D₃ was assessed by measuring their blood concentrations. We found that with the similar dietary intake, there was no statistical difference in the concentrations of plasma copper, iron, calcium, and vitamin D₃ in the two groups (P?>?0.05). Compared with preoperative patients, postoperative patients had higher concentrations of plasma zinc (14.51?±?4.75 μmol/l) and manganese (0.21?±?0.11 μmol/l) and lower concentrations of plasma selenium (0.86?±?0.58 μmol/l). Both preoperative and postoperative mean concentrations of plasma calcium and vitamin D₃ were below their reference range, respectively. We conclude that IPAA does not seem to alter patients' abnormal trace elements completely. It is important to monitor and supply some specified trace elements even in postoperative patients.