Cellularity of organs in mature rams of different breeds

The relative importance of cell number and cell size in determining the mass of 16 organs and tissues in mature rams of six different breeds was studied through estimation of organ deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content. The mean fleece-free empty body weight (FFEBW) ranged from 54.6 +/- 0.3 kg for Camden Park Merinos to 76.7 +/- 1.6 kg for Strong Wool Merinos. For all organs, mass increased with FFEBW, but the relationship was significant across all sheep for only eight organs (blood, kidney, liver, abomasum, vastus lateralis muscle, skin, perirenal fat and triceps muscle). There were significant differences between breeds in the mass of 11 organs. With four (heart, rumen reticulum, small intestine and testicular fat) this difference was independent of breed differences in FFEBW, whereas with another four (kidney, abomasum, vastus lateralis muscle and skin), it was closely related to FFEBW. Breed differences in the mass of the remaining three organs (blood, liver and perirenal fat) were partly related to FFEBW and partly breed specific. Blood mass increased with FFEBW across all animals, but, within a breed, it declined as FFEBW increased. The increase in the mass of perirenal fat with FFEBW was significantly greater within a breed than between breeds. Cell number increased significantly with the mass of all organs except blood and brain. There were between-breed differences in the number of cells in seven organs (liver, heart, rumen reticulum, abomasum, small intestine, vastus lateralis muscle and skin), which, except for heart, were attributable to between-breed differences in organ mass. With heart, the increase in cell number with organ mass within a breed was greater than across all breeds. Cell size was significantly related to organ mass only with vastus lateralis muscle, spleen, perirenal fat and liver. The relationship for vastus lateralis muscle and spleen was negative, indicating that cells were smaller in larger organs. There were differences between breeds in cell size for heart, vastus lateralis and triceps muscles. These differences for heart and triceps muscle were breed specific, whereas for vastus lateralis muscle it was attributed to breed differences in organ weight. There was a 30-fold range in mean cell size across organs, with adipose tissue having the largest cells, muscle tissue intermediate and visceral tissues the smallest. In general, organ mass is positively related to FFEBW. Cell number, not cell size, is largely responsible for differences in organ mass between mature sheep of different breeds.     

Accumulation of pollutants in fish

The amount of radioactivity which derived from 14C-labeled pollutants was determined in liver, kidney, intestine, blood, muscle and gills of carp, exposed for 6, 24 and 72 hr to high external concentrations of urea, methanol, atrazine and PCP. The results allowed one to calculate roughly the uptake rate for these compounds. It was low for urea (0.055 micrograms/g per hr), higher for methanol (0.12) and atrazine (0.16) and highest for PCP (1.5). The bioaccumulation factors (BFs) were determined for the different substances and organs. They correlated with the hydrophilic-lipophilic nature of the chemicals. The more lipophilic the substances the more accumulation occurred in the liver. PCP accumulated the most. BF was 300-400 in most tissues except muscle where it was quite low. The BF was 3-4 for atrazine in liver, kidney and intestine, but just 1 in blood, muscle and gills. There is some evidence that the BF for methanol equals 1 in liver, kidney, gills and intestine. It is less than 1 in blood and muscle. Urea was equally distributed in all organs and in the external medium.     

Dynamics of absorption of yellow fluorescent protein in intestine and reabsorption in kidney in rat postnatal ontogenesis

In experiments of the 5, 12 and 25-day old rat pups and adult rats in has been shown that after administration of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) into stomach, its partial absorption in the non-degraded state in the small intestine takes place, with subsequent transport to kidney with blood flow and accumulation in cells of the proximal nephron segment. With age of rats, intensity of the intestinal YFP absorption decrease; the YFP accumulation in the kidney is more active in rats of the younger age groups than in adult animals. No accumulation of YFP in liver was revealed. The obtained data indicate an intensive absorption of YFP in the non-hydrolyzed form in the rat pup small intestine in early postnatal ontogenesis and an important role of kidney in protein metabolism and in proteolysis of exogenous proteins.     

Blood flow distribution and tissue allometry in channel catfish

Blood flow (as percentage of cardiac output) in fasted channel catfish acclimated to 21°C was directed primarily to white muscle (72%) followed by head kidney (5·7%), red muscle (5·5%), trunk kidney (3·1%), liver (2·2%), swim bladder (1·4%) and skin (1·1%). The stomach, intestines, pyloric caeca, gonads, brain, abdominal fat and spleen contained <0·5% of blood flow. There was considerable interfish variation among blood flow distribution to visceral organs with substantial spatial heterogeneity of blood flow to white muscle. The spatial heterogeneity of flow to muscle prevented accurate estimation of total flow to this tissue based on the microsphere deposition of a few sub-samples. Instead, a novel approach, based on the whole animal counting of the eviscerated carcass was used to measure blood flow to white muscle. The scaling relationships for tissue mass in catfish (63–1873 g) followed the allometric equation (aW^b) and tended to exhibit negative allometry, with organ weight decreasing in proportion to body weight. The b values for most tissues ranged between 0·83 and 1·0. The relative mass of the brain showed the greatest decline and with a b value of 0·32. The results, together with previous data on cardiac output, permitted calculation of organ blood flow rates in channel catfish. © 1999 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles     

Organ blood flow in Fischer-344 rats bearing MCA-induced sarcoma.

Although blood flow is central to systemic metabolism, little is known about the effect of tumor on the perfusion of host tissues. This study evaluated the effects of a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma on blood flow to intra-abdominal organs and skeletal muscle of Fischer-344 rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Animals were studied by aortic injection of radiolabeled microspheres when the tumors reached 20% of body weight. Total-organ arterial flows in spleen, liver, small intestine, and pancreas were each increased to 50-150% in tumor bearers relative to controls (P less than 0.05). Portal venous flow and flow per gram to hindlimb muscle were 60 +/- 20 and 300 +/- 100% greater, respectively, in tumor-bearing animals (P less than 0.005). This study shows that tumor growth can be associated with large changes in organ flow and distribution of cardiac output. The increase in skeletal muscle flow in the tumor bearers, which lost normal tissue weight relative to pair-fed controls (P less than 0.05), is in marked contrast to decreased muscle flow previously observed in simple starvation.     

Changes in glutamine synthesis activity in the different organs of developing rats

The changes experienced by the glutamine synthetase activity in the liver, kidney, striated muscle, adipose tissue, brain, stomach, small intestine and skin of developing rats have been estimated. Skin and stomach enzymes attained the adult values in the late foetal period. Striated muscle, intestine and kidney glutamine synthetase belonged to the neonatal cluster, while liver and brain rose to values comparable to those of adults in late suckling. Glutamine synthesis between different organs of the rat during development matures soon after birth, gaining a considerable importance that helps to compensate the lack of availability of other nitrogen transport systems between peripheral and splanchnic bed organs in developing rats.     

Effect of dextran gelatin on cholinesterase of rats

This study has been carried out by measuring the cholinesterase (ChE) activity in blood serum and in some organs (brain, liver, spleen, kidney, small intestine, lung, and cardiac muscle) of rats before and at different time intervals after infusion of 65 dextran 70, and 5% gelatin 40 solutions (1 ml/100 g body weight). The controls received infusions of the diluent of the gelatin preparation. The data obtained showed that the infusion of the diluent in rats has no effect on ChE activity neither in blood serum nor in other organs at any time intervals after infusion. In case of dextran and gelatin, a significant increase in ChE activity in blood serum and the tested organs was observed at different time intervals after infusion. The increase in case of dextran was more marked than in case of gelatin. These measurements returned to base-line values during 72 h after infusion. Furthermore, the study failed to disclose any untoward reactions, either immediate or delayed, which could be attributed to the infusion solutions.     

Changes of tissue creatine concentrations upon oral supplementation of creatine-monohydrate in various animal species

Creatine is a nutritional supplement with major application as ergogenic and neuroprotective substrate. Varying supplementation protocols differing in dosage and duration have been applied but systematic studies of total creatine (creatine and phosphocreatine) content in the various organs of interest are lacking. We investigated changes of total creatine concentrations in brain, muscle, heart, kidney, liver, lung and venous/portal plasma of guinea pigs, mice and rats in response to 2-8 weeks oral creatine-monohydrate supplementation (1.3-2 g/kg/d; 1.4-2.8% of dietary intake). Analysis of creatine and phosphocreatine content was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. Total creatine was determined as the sum of creatine and phosphocreatine. Presupplementation total creatine concentrations were high in brain, skeletal and heart muscle (10-22 micromol/g wet weight), and low in liver, kidney and lung (5-8 micromol/g wet weight). During creatine supplementation, the relative increase of total creatine was low (15-55% of presupplementation values) in organs with high presupplementation concentrations, and high (260-500% of presupplementation values) in organs with low presupplementation concentrations. The increase of total creatine concentrations was most pronounced after 4 weeks of supplementation. In muscle, brain, kidney and lungs, an additional increase (p<0.01) was observed between 2-4 and 2-8 weeks of supplementation. Absolute concentrations of phosphocreatine increased, but there was no increase of the relative (percentual) proportion of phosphocreatine (14-45%) during supplementation. Statistical comparison of total creatine concentrations across the species revealed no systematically differences in organ distribution and in time points of supplementation. Results suggest that in organs with low presupplementation creatine levels (liver, kidney), a major determinant of creatine uptake is an extra-intracellular concentration gradient. In organs with high presupplementation total creatine levels like brain, skeletal and heart muscle, the maximum capacity of creatine accumulation is low compared to other organs. A supplementation period of 2 to 4 weeks is necessary for significant augmentation of the creatine pool in these organs.     

Time-related alterations of superoxide radical levels in diverse organs of bile duct-ligated rats

The time-related alterations of superoxide radical measured in vivo by employing an ultrasensitive fluorescent assay in the liver, intestine, kidney and brain of rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice was investigated. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into Group A, rats subjected to sham operation, and Group B, rats subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL). Three rats from each group were subsequently killed at different time points post-operatively (1, 5 and 10 days). As compared to sham-operated, BDL rats showed a gradual increase with time of superoxide radical in the intestine, liver, kidney and brain: for animals sacrificed on the 1^st, 5^th and 10^th day the increase was 45%, 50% and 96% in the liver, 76%, 81% and 118% in the intestine, 64%, 71% and 110% in the kidney and 76%, 95% and 142% in the brain, respectively. This study provides direct evidence of an early appearance of oxidative stress in diverse organs, implying a uniform systemic response to biliary obstruction and emphasizing the need of early bile flow restoration.     

Changes in the activity levels of glutamine synthetase, glutaminase and glycogen synthetase in rats subjected to hypoxic stress

 Exposure to high altitude causes loss of body mass and alterations in metabolic processes, especially carbohydrate and protein metabolism. The present study was conducted to elucidate the role of glutamine synthetase, glutaminase and glycogen synthetase under conditions of chronic intermittent hypoxia. Four groups, each consisting of 12 male albino rats (Wistar strain), were exposed to a simulated altitude of 7620 m in a hypobaric chamber for 6 h per day for 1, 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively. Blood haemoglobin, blood glucose, protein levels in the liver, muscle and plasma, glycogen content, and glutaminase, glutamine synthetase and glycogen synthetase activities in liver and muscle were determined in all groups of exposed and in a group of unexposed animals. Food intake and changes in body mass were also monitored. There was a significant reduction in body mass (28–30%) in hypoxia-exposed groups as compared to controls, with a corresponding decrease in food intake. There was rise in blood haemoglobin and plasma protein in response to acclimatisation. Over a three-fold increase in liver glycogen content was observed following 1 day of hypoxic exposure (4.76±0.78 mg·g⁻¹ wet tissue in normal unexposed rats; 15.82±2.30 mg·g⁻¹ wet tissue in rats exposed to hypoxia for 1 day). This returned to normal in later stages of exposure. However, there was no change in glycogen synthetase activity except for a decrease in the 21-days hypoxia-exposed group. There was a slight increase in muscle glycogen content in the 1-day exposed group which declined significantly by 56.5, 50.6 and 42% following 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure, respectively. Muscle glycogen synthetase activity was also decreased following 21 days of exposure. There was an increase in glutaminase activity in the liver and muscle in the 7-, 14- and 21-day exposed groups. Glutamine synthetase activity was higher in the liver in 7- and 14-day exposed groups; this returned to normal following 21 days of exposure. Glutamine synthetase activity in muscle was significantly higher in the 14-day exposed group (4.32 μmol γ-glutamyl hydroxamate formed·g protein⁻¹·min⁻¹) in comparison to normal (1.53 μmol γ-glutamyl hydroxamate formed·g protein⁻¹·min⁻¹); this parameter had decreased by 40% following 21 days of exposure. These results suggest that since no dramatic changes in the levels of protein were observed in the muscle and liver, there is an alteration in glutaminase and glutamine synthetase activity in order to maintain nitrogen metabolism in the initial phase of hypoxic exposure. Received: 30 March 1998 / Revised: 18 November 1998 / Accepted: 25 November 1998     

Ontogenetic shifts and spatial associations in organ positions for snakes

Snakes possess an elongated body form and serial placement of organs which provides the opportunity to explore historic and adaptive mechanisms of organ position. We examined the influence of body size and sex on the position of, and spatial associations between, the heart, liver, small intestine, and right kidney for ten phylogenetically diverse species of snakes that vary in body shape and habitat. Snake snout–vent length explained much of the variation in the position of these four organs. For all ten species, the position of the heart and liver relative to snout–vent length decreased as a function of size. As body size increased from neonate to adult, these two organs shifted anteriorly an average of 4.7% and 5.7% of snout–vent length, respectively. Similarly, the small intestine and right kidney shifted anteriorly with an increase in snout–vent length for seven and five of the species, respectively. The absolute and relative positioning of these organs did not differ between male and female Burmese pythons (Python molurus). However, for diamondback water snakes (Nerodia rhombifer), the liver and small intestine were more anteriorly positioned in females as compared to males, whereas the right kidney was positioned more anteriorly for males. Correlations of residuals of organ position (deviation from predicted position) demonstrated significant spatial associations between organs for nine of the ten species. For seven species, individuals with hearts more anterior (or posterior) than predicted also tended to possess livers that were similarly anteriorly (or posteriorly) placed. Positive associations between liver and small intestine positions and between small intestine and right kidney positions were observed for six species, while spatial associations between the heart and small intestine, heart and right kidney, and liver and right kidney were observed in three or four species. This study demonstrates that size, sex, and spatial associations may have potential interacting effects when testing evolutionary scenarios for the position of snake organs.     

Organ and intracellular localization of short-chain acyl-CoA synthetases in rat and guinea-pig.

1. Homogenates of rat epididymal fat pad, heart, kidney, lactating mammary gland, liver, skeletal muscle and small intestinal mucosa have been partitioned into a particulate and supernatant fraction. With reliable marker enzymes for the mitochondrial matrix and the cytosol: propionyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate kinase, the distributions of the acyl-CoA synthetase activities measured at 1 and 10 mM C2, C3 and C4 over mitochondria and cytosol have been calculated. From these values an estimate was made of the K0.5 of the fatty acids. 2. A distinct fatty acid-activating enzyme was assumed to be present in one of the compartments when that fatty acid was activated with a K0.5 less than or equal to 1.5 mM in an amount of greater than 13% of the total cellular activity. Adipose tissue, gut, liver and mammary gland, all organs of a high lipogenetic capacity, contained a cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthetase. At 1 mM acetate 60, 31, 77 and 83% of the total cellular activities in these organs were cytosolic in nature, with activities of 0.021, 0.32, 0.37 and 1.16 mumol C2 activated per min per g wet weight, respectively. 3. Mitochondrial acetyl-CoA and butyryl-CoA synthetases were found in adipose tissue, gut, heart, kidney, mammary gland and muscle. They were absent in liver. Adipose tissue and liver contained a mitochondrial propionyl-CoA synthetase with activities at 1 mM C3 of 0.014 and 1.50 mumol C3 activated per min per g wet weight, respectively. 4. At 1 mM, C2 was activated with decreasing rates by kidney, heart, mammary gland and gut (7.6-1.0 mumol C2 activated per min per g wet weight). C3 (1 mM) activation was about equal (1.6-1.9 mumol C3 activated per min per g wet weight) in liver, kidney and heart. C4 (1 mM) was activated with decreasing rates by heart, liver, kidney and gut (4.0-0.5 mumol C4 activated per min per g wet weight) in the order given. 5. The influence of the isolation method and the diet on fatty acid activation in small intestinal mucosal scrapings have been studied. To demonstrate the existence of cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthetase in fed animals a pre-treatment of everted intestine by low amplitude vibration has been found essential. Also C16 activation was highly (95%) decreased in a non-pre-vibrated preparation. 24 h starvation lowered cytosolic C2 and total C16 activation by 90 and 80%, respectively. Refeeding of starved rats with a balanced fat-free diet, and not with sucrose only, gave the same cytosolic C2 and total C16 activation as normally fed rats. 6. In guienea-pig heart, kidney, liver and muscle about the same partitions have been found as in the respective rat organs. The acetate activation in liver was factor 6 lower. Acetate and butyrate activation in guinea-pig muscle was much higher (6 and 37 times, respectively).     

Comparative study on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio by mercury and zinc.

The effects of sublethal concentrations of mercury (0.1mg/l) and zinc (6 mg/l) on acetylcholinesterase activity and acetylcholine content of gill, kidney, intestine, brain, liver and muscle of the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio at 1, 15 and 30 days of exposure were studied. A significant suppression in acetylcholinesterase activity was recorded in all the organs from both mercury and zinc intoxicated fish at all the exposure periods. Concurrently, a significant increase in the content of acetylcholine in the organs was observed. These changes observed in the organs of mercury treated fish in different exposure periods were in the order 1 greater than 15 less than 30 days and in zinc treated fish 1 greater than 15 greater than 30 days. Further, these changes were greater in magnitude in the brain, liver and muscle (non-osmoregulatory organs) than in the gill, kidney and intestine (osmoregulatory organs) in both metal media.     

Cardiac output distribution and intrarenal haemodynamics: role of thromboxanes.

The effects of imidazole, an inhibitor of thromboxane synthesis, were studied on the distribution of cardiac output and on the intrarenal haemodynamics in anaesthetized, furthermore on the salt and water excretion in conscious rats. Imidazole treatment (10 mg/100 g b.m., intraperitoneally, twice a day for two days) failed to influence the arterial blood pressure, the cardiac output and its distribution in organs investigated (heart, muscle, lung [bronchial fraction], skin, liver, spleen, small intestine, adrenal gland and kidneys). The medullary blood flow increased, while cortical blood flow remained unchanged, but the intrarenal percentile blood flow shifted towards the medulla. Imidazole elevated the water turnover in the animals, but no change in sodium and potassium excretion occurred. It is supposed that thromboxanes may affect the renal medullary vascular tone without altering the vascular smooth muscle activity in other organs.     

Aging attenuates vascular and metabolic plasticity but does not limit improvement in muscle VO(2) max

The interactions between exercise, vascular and metabolic plasticity, and aging have provided insight into the prevention and restoration of declining whole body and small muscle mass exercise performance known to occur with age. Metabolic and vascular adaptations to normoxic knee-extensor exercise training (1 h 3 times a week for 8 wk) were compared between six sedentary young (20 +/- 1 yr) and six sedentary old (67 +/- 2 yr) subjects. Arterial and venous blood samples, in conjunction with a thermodilution technique facilitated the measurement of quadriceps muscle blood flow and hematologic variables during incremental knee-extensor exercise. Pretraining, young and old subjects attained a similar maximal work rate (WR(max)) (young = 27 +/- 3, old = 24 +/- 4 W) and similar maximal quadriceps O(2) consumption (muscle Vo(2 max)) (young = 0.52 +/- 0.03, old = 0.42 +/- 0.05 l/min), which increased equally in both groups posttraining (WR(max), young = 38 +/- 1, old = 36 +/- 4 W, Muscle Vo(2 max), young = 0.71 +/- 0.1, old = 0.63 +/- 0.1 l/min). Before training, muscle blood flow was approximately 500 ml lower in the old compared with the young throughout incremental knee-extensor exercise. After 8 wk of knee-extensor exercise training, the young reduced muscle blood flow approximately 700 ml/min, elevated arteriovenous O(2) difference approximately 1.3 ml/dl, and increased leg vascular resistance approximately 17 mmHg x ml(-1) x min(-1), whereas the old subjects revealed no training-induced changes in these variables. Together, these findings indicate that after 8 wk of small muscle mass exercise training, young and old subjects of equal initial metabolic capacity have a similar ability to increase quadriceps muscle WR(max) and muscle Vo(2 max), despite an attenuated vascular and/or metabolic adaptation to submaximal exercise in the old.     

Senescence alters blood flow responses to acute heat stress

Renal and splanchnic sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) responses to heating are significantly reduced in senescent compared with young Fischer-344 (F344) rats (Kenney MJ and Fels RJ. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 283: R513-R520, 2002). However, the functional significance of this finding is not known. We tested the hypothesis that blood flow distribution profiles to heating are altered in senescent (24 mo old) compared with mature (12 mo old) and young (3 mo old) F344 rats. Visceral organ, skeletal muscle, and tail blood flows were determined with the radionuclide-tagged microsphere technique before (control, 38 degrees C) and during heating that increased body temperature to 41 degrees C in anesthetized F344 rats. Vascular conductance in the kidney, stomach, large intestine, pancreas, spleen, and tail was significantly reduced during control before heating in senescent compared with young F344 rats. Heating significantly decreased kidney, stomach, small and large intestine, and pancreas vascular conductance in young and mature but not senescent F344 rats. Vascular conductance at 41 degrees C in the kidney and small intestine was significantly lower and in the stomach tended to be lower in young compared with senescent rats. Splenic conductance increased during heating in young and senescent rats but was highest in young rats. Tail conductance during heating was significantly increased in young rats but remained unchanged in mature and senescent rats. These results demonstrate a marked attenuation in heating-induced vascular conductance changes in senescent rats, suggesting an important functional consequence for the attenuated SND responses to heating in aged rats.     

Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and lipid peroxidation in the major organs of the aging rats

Glutathione peroxidase (GSh-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and malon-dialdehyde (MDA) content were determined in heart, liver, kidney and brain of rats. Two different age groups (4 months; 24 months) were considered. GSH-Px and SOD activities decrease significantly for the aged liver and kidney. During aging, the activity of catalase increase in cardiac muscle and, in contrast, decrease in other organs. Lipids peroxidation, expressed in term of MDA formation, decrease in all the organs of the aged rats. The results indicate that: 1) the liver and kidney antioxidative defense decrease with age; 2) the enzymatic activities evolve in a different manner for different enzymes and organs. Furthermore, the results suggest that there is not any correlation between the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities and the peroxidative status of the organs; thus, the age-related increase in the MDA content proposed as a criterion of aging process should be considered with caution.     

Heavy metal pollutant induced changes in some biochemical parameters in the freshwater fish Clarias batrachus L

The data on the effects of Hg(II), As(V) and Pb(II) on the biochemical parameters of the freshwater fish. Clarias batrachus L., showed an increased protein content in the liver, kidney, stomach, intestine, testis and ovary, and a decreased content of it in the muscle as compared to control values. A decrease in dry weight and an increase in free amino acid and tissue permeability were recorded in all the organs after treatment with Hg(II), As(V) and Pb(II). In general, the organs were affected by the treatments in the order: Pb(II) greater than As(V) greater than Hg(II) and their effects were pronounced in the liver and kidney, followed by intestine, stomach, muscle, testis and ovary of the species.     

厦门海域两头中华白海豚体内铁的含量

铁是动物体的必需元素,是血红蛋白和肌红蛋白中氧的携带者。动物体内的含铁化合物主要为血红蛋白、肌红蛋白（Mb）、转铁蛋白、含铁血黄素和含铁酶（王夔,1992）。铁与水生哺乳动物的潜水能力密切相关。Wright和Davis（2006）对威德尔海豹（Leptonychotes weddellii）的研究表明,Mb是水生哺乳动物最重要的储氧部位,在胃肠吸收后状态下Mb从正常水平降低7％时,有氧潜水限度（Aerobic Dive Limit,ADL）下降39％;Mb增加两倍时,ADL则增加30％。     

Accumulation of copper in kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats, a preliminary study

Mineral levels such as Cu, Fe, Zn, Ca and Mg in organs of spontaneously hypertensive osteogenic disorder Shionogi rat (SHR-od) were compared with those of normotensive osteogenic disorder Shionogi rat (ODS). The effect of vitamin C deficiency was also examined for both strains. Cu levels in kidney of SHR-od increased to 2.2 times and 5.0 times that of ODS at 6-week old and 30-week old, respectively, although the effect of vitamin C deficiency was not observed in Cu levels of five organs examined. The effect of vitamin C deficiency appeared in the change in the other mineral levels almost similarly for both SHR-od and ODS rats at 30-week old; the decrease of Fe in liver, spleen and lung, whereas the increase of Zn in liver, Ca in heart and Mg in spleen, respectively.