Liver Fe Concentrations Research Articles

Effects of various aluminium compounds given orally to mice on Al tissue distribution and tissue concentrations of essential elements.

To evaluate the risk of gastrointestinal long-term aluminium (Al) exposure, aluminium distribution and the levels of the following essential elements: Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe in tissue were studied. Aluminium was administered in drinking water as aluminium chloride, dihydroxyaluminium sodium carbonate or aluminium hydroxide. Mice (strain Pzh:SFIS) were exposed to a total dose of 700 mg Al in long-term treatment (for each Al compound n = 15). Concentrations of Al, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe in stomach, kidneys, bone and liver were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. After AlCl3 treatment, aluminium was found to accumulate in all tested tissues. A significant decrease in Fe concentration in liver and Zn in kidneys was observed in comparison to concentrations of these elements in the control group. In the Al(OH)3-treated group, accumulation of aluminium was observed in bone only and decline of Fe concentration in stomach and Cu in liver and kidney. In the NaAl(OH)2CO3-treated group the increase in Al concentration was significant in bone; there was no change in concentration of essential elements in the examined tissues. The observed aluminium accumulation was not accompanied by changes in Ca and Mg concentration except for bone. This study showed that oral administration as a route of Al exposure can result in diverging accumulation of aluminium in tissues, the concentration depending on the chemical form.

Effects of pasture applied biosolids on performance and mineral status of grazing beef heifers.

Angus x Hereford heifers (n = 50) were randomly assigned to bahiagrass pastures treated with biosolids varying in mineral content and evaluated for mineral status, with special attention to Cu. Biosolids and NH4NO3 were all applied at the rate of either 179 kg N/ha (X) or twice this (2X). Fertilizer was applied to .81-ha pastures for the following treatments: 1) Baltimore biosolids (1X = 179 kg N/ha); 2) Baltimore biosolids (2X = 358 kg N/ha); 3) Tampa biosolids (1X = 179 kg N/ha); 4) Tampa biosolids (2X = 358 kg N/ha); or 5) control NH4NO3 (1X = 179 kg N/ha) applied at two times. Pastures were divided into five blocks with each treatment represented once in each block. Copper loads varied from 8.8 to 42.2 kg/ha, and Mo loads varied from .27 to 1.11 kg/ha. Heifers (two per pasture) grazed their assigned pastures exclusively for 176 d. Liver biopsies were taken from all animals at d 1, 99, and 176, and blood samples on d 1, 50, 99, 135, and 176. Liver and plasma were analyzed for selected mineral contents, and blood was analyzed for hemoglobin and hematocrit. Experimental animals were generally low in mineral status when assigned to pastures and deficient in Se and P. By d 50, plasma Ca, Mg, Se, P, and Zn were adequate for all treatments. Plasma Cu declined (P < .03) for all treatments from d 50 to 176. Plasma Cu reflected depleted liver Cu storage, with the two Tampa and highest Baltimore treatment means lower in plasma Cu than the control at 176 d. Liver Fe concentrations were adequate for all treatments, and Mo concentrations (< 2.18 mg/kg) did not approach levels indicative of toxicity. Liver Cu declined (P < .05) with time for all treatments. By d 99, animals receiving the two Baltimore treatments and the lowest Tampa application rate had lower (P < .05) liver Cu than the control, and all treatments were lower at 176 d. The decline of animal Cu status (liver and plasma) reflects the low Cu status of bahiagrass and the possibility of high forage S (.30 to .47%) interfering with Cu metabolism. Forage Mo was low but was slightly higher in biosolids-treated pastures. High levels of biosolids applications to bahiagrass pastures were not detrimental to mineral status except Cu, which had a tendency to decline in plasma and for all biosolids treatments declined in liver.

Evaluating Copper Lysine and Copper Sulfate Sources for Heifers

The effects of feeding different sources and quantities of Cu to heifers were evaluated in a 211-d experiment. Forty crossbred predominantly Brahman x Hereford heifers averaging 13.5 mo of age and 301kg were initially depleted of Cu. The depletion diet was fed for 70 d and consisted of low Cu and high antagonist minerals, Fe, S, and Mo at 1000 mg/kg, 0.5%, and 5 mg/kg (dry basis), respectively. On d 71, heifers continued to receive the antagonistic minerals and were allotted equally to five Cu treatments: 1) control, no additional Cu source; 2) 8mg of Cu/kg from CuSO4; 3) 16mg of Cu/kg from CuSO4; 4) 8mg of Cu/kg from Cu lysine; and 5) 16mg of Cu/kg from Cu lysine. When no notable change in concentration of Cu in the liver was observed, d 169, a second diet was formulated. The heifers were fed the same Cu treatments, but S and Mo were removed and Fe was lowered to 50 mg/kg. This diet was then fed for the final 42 d of the experiment. In addition to performance, concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn in the plasma and liver, plasma ceruloplasmin, hemoglobin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and a cell mediated immune response (phytohemagglutinin-P, PHA) were measured. Heifers in this study had increased growth over time, but there were no treatment differences for growth and average daily gain. Liver and plasma Cu concentrations were not greatly influenced by different supplemental Cu sources. However, compared with other treatments, Cu lysine (16 mg/kg) increased liver Cu in cattle that were deficient and tended to increase plasma Cu in animals that were marginally deficient in Cu. Iron concentrations decreased over time in liver and plasma, but there was no difference in Fe and Zn concentrations in liver and plasma among treatments. Differences in ceruloplasmin and hemoglobin concentrations were significant over time but not among treatments. The SOD activity in neutrophils did not change over time, but SOD activity of lymphocytes increased over time. For the PHA immune response test, there was no effect of time or a time by treatment interaction. These data suggest that all Cu sources were available, but Cu at 16 mg/kg from Cu lysine was more beneficial than were other sources and particularly for heifers with low Cu status.

Trace element status of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. fed a fish-meal based diet with or without supplementation of zinc, iron, manganese and copper from first feeding

Growth, haemoglobin and element status were compared in Atlantic salmon fed a practical fish-meal based diet, unsupplemented or supplemented with a mixture of the elements zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) from first feeding (weight 0.20 g). The diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish from weeks 1–20 and to duplicates from weeks 21–34. The basal diet (Diet 1) was not supplemented and contained 67 mg Zn, 106 mg Fe, 4.7 mg Mn and 3.7 mg Cu kg–1. Diet 2 was supplemented with 68 mg Zn, 34 mg Fe, 13 mg Mn and 3.5 mg Cu kg–1. Iron was not added to Diet 3. Mean weight and mortality did not differ among the groups at any sampling point. Whole-body Zn and Mn responded to dietary concentration at all sampling points. Plasma and vertebrae Zn concentrations responded significantly to dietary Zn concentration. There were no effects with Fe. The Fe status of the fish, assessed by whole-body and liver Fe concentrations, was low in all groups. No effect of supplementation was found for Cu and no accurate judgement either of status or requirement could be made from the present results. It is concluded that supplementing fish-meal based start feeds for Atlantic salmon with Zn, Mn and Fe is appropriate, while further studies are needed for the evaluation of Cu supplementation. The supplementation levels used in the present experiment appeared to meet the requirements for Zn and Mn, while the supplemented level of Fe appeared to be too low. Deleting Fe from the element mixture did not significantly affect Fe status or that of Zn, Mn and Cu. There was an accumulation of Zn and Fe with growth. Cu remained constant and there was a trend towards reduced Mn in the fish given the unsupplemented diet.

Phytic Acid Inhibits Free Radical Formation In Vitro but Does Not Affect Liver Oxidant or Antioxidant Status in Growing Rats

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of phytic acid on free radical generation in vitro and in growing rats. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap indicate a complete inhibition of hydroxyl radical formation via the iron-catalyzed Fenton reaction at molar phytic acid/iron ratios >5. However, phytic acid had no scavenging effect on superoxide radicals generated in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase reaction. For the in vivo study, male growing albino rats were fed purified diets based on casein, cornstarch and vitamin E–stripped corn oil differing in the concentration of iron (30 or 300 mg/kg), phytic acid (0 or 10 g/kg) and dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (0 or 50 mg/kg). At marginal dietary iron supply, phytic acid supplementation reduced apparent Fe absorption, thereby decreasing liver Fe concentration. Dietary iron and phytate had no effect on the level of hepatic α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione, thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances and protein carbonyls. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances and protein carbonyls in the liver decreased as dietary vitamin E was increased from 0 to 50 mg/kg diet. The results obtained provide evidence for antioxidant properties of phytic acid under in vitro conditions. However, neither phytic acid nor iron had any significant effect on liver oxidant or antioxidant status in vivo in growing rats.

Placental Copper Transport in Rats: Effects of Elevated Dietary Zinc on Fetal Copper, Iron and Metallothionein

We hypothesized that the competition between zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) during fetal accretion of copper could be discriminated at either the dam-to-placenta or placenta-to-fetus stage. This premise was tested by feeding dams a high Zn diet (1000 mg/kg, HZn) during the second half of gestation. One day before delivery, dams were anesthetized, fetuses removed and both maternal and fetal tissues and plasma obtained and assayed. Other rats were fed a normal Zn concentration diet (32.4 mg/kg, ND) throughout pregnancy. There were significantly lower fetal liver Cu concentrations and greater plasma Fe concentrations, but not plasma Cu concentrations or liver Fe concentrations in the HZn group. Both dam and fetal Zn liver concentrations were greater in the HZn than in the ND group. Plasma Cu levels were lower in the HZn-fed than in the ND-fed dams. Placental tissue from the HZn litters had a greater concentration of Zn and Fe than did the ND group, whereas no effect was noted for Cu concentration. Metallothionein (MT) levels were elevated in dam livers and placenta in the HZn group, but there were no differences in fetal liver MT. The dynamic assessment of placental transport was conducted by injecting 2.5 mg/kg Cu acetate intravenously into dams of both groups. Sequential samplings of dam and fetal blood and placentas were taken from 0 to 60 min. After the Cu bolus, there was a consistently higher plasma Cu concentration in the HZn than in the ND dams, but no alteration in the concentration of Cu in the placenta or fetal plasma. This study indicates that placental Cu uptake is not affected by a high Zn diet in the dam. In addition, the greater Zn concentration in the placenta of HZn than in ND litters results in abnormal fetal Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations, suggesting that an imbalanced maternal mineral consumption is deleterious to normal divalent metal accretion.

Effect of gamma-radiation on some elements in certain organs of albino rats.

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to determine the concentrations of Ca, Cl, Fe, Ni, P, K, Se, S, and Zn in heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney of adult albino rats 2 mo after they were subject to a single gamma gamma-radiation dose from 60Co at 5 gy. In female rats, K levels were significantly higher and the Ca levels significantly lower for the irradiated animals when compared to age-matched nonirradiated controls. Significant differences between irradiated and nonirradiated tissues were observed for other elements, although no sex-related differences could be found. Tissue damage and disturbances of biological functions were observed as a result of gamma-irradiation.

Iron intake affects lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity of distal colonic mucosa

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of low, adequate, and high dietary iron (Fe) levels on lipid peroxidation, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and glutathione (GSH) concentrations in colon and liver. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed iron deficient (DFe; 14 mg Fe/kg diet; n=8), adequate iron (AFe; 39 mg Fe/kg diet, n=8), or high iron (HFe; 454 mg Fe/kg diet; n=8) diets for 3 weeks. Liver Fe concentrations were 26, 84, and 243 ug/g wet weight, respectively, for rats fed DFe, AFe, and HFe diets (p<0.0001). Lipid peroxidation was increased 70% in distal colonic mucosa of rats fed HFe diets compared to that of rats fed AFe and DFe diets (p<0.01), but lipid peroxidation was unaffected by diet in proximal colon or liver. While distal colonic mucosal GSH-Px activity was lower in DFe rats (0.062 U/mg protein), than in AFe rats (0.091 U/mg protein), and HFe rats (0.089 U/mg protein) (p<0.05), iron intake had no effect on GSH-Px activity in proximal colon or liver. The distal colon had higher GSH-Px activity than proximal colon (p<0.0001). GST activity in colon and liver, and hepatic GSH concentrations were not altered by dietary iron intakes. This study suggests that distal and proximal colonic mucosa may respond differently to changes in Fe status.

Biogeochemical interactions affecting hepatic trace element levels in aquatic birds

AbstractKnowledge of elemental interactions is important to the toxicological assessment of wildlife in the geochemical environment. This study determines the concentrations of Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mg, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Ag, V, and Zn in aquatic bird liver, fish liver, whole bivalves, insects, and waters in several aquatic ecosystems in northern California. There is evidence of strong in vivo and environmental interactions, including the observation of manganese as a possible cofactor or indicator in selenium bioaccumulation. The nearest neighbor selenium correlation in aquatic bird liver tissue that results from this work is Cd–Mn–Se–Hg–As. The correlation of liver selenium to manganese in vivo and the result that the majority of the variance in liver selenium concentration is contained in the manganese term of the regression model relating Se to Cd, Mn, and Hg is new knowledge in the study of aquatic birds. A linear relationship between liver selenium and environmental manganese (water and sediment) is found in the data, suggesting a water chemistry compartmentalization or activation of toxicants. Alternatively, the hepatic concentrations of selenium, manganese, and iron suggest induction of enzymes in response to oxidative stress.

Effect of Dietary Iron Concentration, Age, and Length of Iron Feeding on Feed Intake and Tissue Iron Concentration of Broiler Chicks for Use as a Bioassay of Supplemental Iron Sources

Three experiments were conducted with day-old chicks to study the effects of dietary Fe concentration and age on Fe accumulation in tissues as an estimate of supplemental Fe bioavailability, and of delaying the time of initial high Fe supplementation up to 7 d of age on feed intake to 3 wk of age. In Experiment 1, chicks were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (188 mg/kg Fe, DM basis) or the basal supplemented with 400, 600, or 800 mg/kg added Fe as reagent grade FeSO4·7H2O for either 1, 2, or 3 wk. Dietary Fe depressed (P < 0.001) feed intake and body weight gain, especially at 3 wk. Kidney Fe concentrations increased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary Fe. Liver Fe concentration also increased linearly, but reached a plateau in birds fed 600 mg/kg Fe. Bone Fe increased linearly (P < 0.05) at 1 wk, but not at 2 or 3 wk. Liver and kidney Fe regressed on daily Fe intake had the best fit to a linear model at 2 wk. In Experiment 2, chicks were fed either a basal diet (320 mg/kg Fe, DM basis) continuously, the basal supplemented with 800 mg/kg added Fe as FeSO4·7H2O continuously, or were started on the control diet and switched to the high Fe diet on Day 3, 5, or 7. Feed intake was lower (P < 0.05) in birds started on Fe on Days 1 or 3, but delaying feeding of high Fe diets until Day 5 resulted in intake at 3 wk similar to that of birds fed the basal diet. In Experiment 3, the basal diet (123 mg/kg Fe) was fed to chicks for 6 d, then experimental diets were fed for 14 d. Diets were the basal or basal supplemented with 400, 600, or 800 mg/kg added Fe as reagent grade or feed grade Fe sulfate or an Fe methionine complex. When estimated from regression of log10 liver Fe concentration on total analyzed dietary Fe concentration, relative bioavailability was set at 100% for reagent grade Fe sulfate, and the feed grade sulfate was 92.3% and Fe methionine was 88.3%. Liver Fe concentrations may be useful criteria for determining Fe bioavailability and 2 wk of feeding was the optimal time required for such a bioassay. Delaying feeding high Fe diets until 5 d of age alleviated the decreased feed intake associated with high Fe diets.

Relationship between moderate food restriction during pregnancy and Fe, Zn and Cu contents in maternal tissues and foetuses.

This study was undertaken to monitor Fe, Zn and Cu contents in several maternal tissues and the products of conception of rats submitted to moderate food restriction during pregnancy. Two groups of female rats, nonpregnant (NP) and pregnant (P1), were fed ad libitum. A second group of pregnant rats (restricted diet, P2) was fed for 14 days with the same intake as NP, then the intake was increased by 5% from day 14 to day 21. A significant decrease in liver Fe content was noted in P1 and P2 pregnant rats on day 21, being more marked in livers of P2. Increases in Cu and Zn contents in liver were induced during pregnancy, but the values were significantly lower in P2 than in P1. On day 21, no significant differences due to food restriction were noted in serum concentrations of these trace elements, placental weight and placental Fe. However, dam body weight gain, placental Zn and Cu contents were reduced in P2. Foetuses of undernourished dams exhibited at term lower weight and smaller amounts of Fe, Zn and Cu than those in P1. These results confirm that moderate food restriction during pregnancy produces intrauterine growth retardation and that newborns have low trace element contents (particularly in Cu), which make them dependent on correct postnatal supply.

Effect of breed, intake, and carcass composition on the status of several macro and trace minerals of adult beef cattle.

The objective was to determine the association between breed, intake, and carcass composition and the status of liver Cu, Zn, and Fe, and serum Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg of 118 mature cows representing nine breeds of cattle. Breeds used were Angus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Red Poll, Pinzgauer, and Simmental. The cows were fed one of four levels of DMI: 58, 76, 93, and 111 g of DMI.wt-75.d-1. A ground alfalfa, corn, and corn silage diet was fed for up to 5 yr. There was no relationship between liver and serum concentrations of Cu, a negative correlation (P < .05) existed between liver and serum concentrations of Zn and a positive correlation (P < .01) existed between liver concentrations of Cu and Zn. Concentrations of serum Ca were positively correlated (Cu and Zn, P < .01; Mg, P < .05) with serum concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mg, but negatively correlated (P < .01) with liver Fe. Liver Cu was higher (P < .05) for the Limousin breed than all others, except Angus. Liver Zn concentrations were higher (P < .05) for Limousin than for Pinzgauer, but no other breed differences were observed. Liver Cu concentration was not affected by daily intake, but liver Zn concentration increased (P < .05) with increased daily intake. Liver Fe concentration decreased (P < .01) in a curvilinear manner with increased daily intake. No breed differences in serum concentrations of Cu or Zn were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of intestinal resection, cholecalciferol and ascorbic acid on iron metabolism in rats

The effect of dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid or cholecalciferol on Fe utilization was studied using the metabolic balance technique, in rats in which 50% of the distal small intestine was removed, or in which the mid small intestine was transected and reanastomosed (controls). Three different diets were used. The first (basal diet) contained (g/kg dry wt): protein (casein + 50 mg D,L-methionine/g) 120 and fat (medium-chain triacylglycerols, olive oil and sunflower oil, in equal parts) 40. The other diets were obtained by adding ascorbic acid (150 mg/kg diet) or cholecalciferol (0.4 mg/kg diet) to the basal diet. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and Fe retention were significantly lower in resected animals than in their respective control groups (transected rats). However, the addition of ascorbic acid or cholecalciferol to the basal diet increased the ADC and Fe retention in both transected and resected rats. Five weeks after surgery, resection also resulted in a reduced concentration of Fe in the sternum, but did not reduce the concentration of haemoglobin or serum Fe total Fe-binding capacity or the concentration of Fe in liver, testes, femur or muscle (longissimus dorsi). Supplementation with ascorbic acid increased serum Fe concentration, while the concentration of Fe in muscle was reduced by supplementation with both ascorbic acid and cholecalciferol. Neither supplementation had any effect on the Fe concentration in other tissues, on haemoglobin concentration or plasma total Fe-binding capacity. Thus, supplementation with ascorbic acid or with cholecalciferol increased Fe absorption and reduced the concentration of Fe in muscle.

Biomonitoring heavy metals using the barn owl (Tyto alba guttata): Sources of variation especially relating to body condition

The feasibility of using the Barn Owl (Tyto alba guttata) to monitor environmental quality in the Netherlands was investigated, using Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Fe as indicators for environmental contamination. Throughout 1992, bird-watchers, volunteers, and officials submitted 53 birds. The age and geographical distribution of these birds, formed a representative sample of the population. The following interrelationships were investigated: cause of death, nutrient reserve, age, time of death, place of death, body measurements, sex, condition, and heavy metal concentration in kidney, liver, and tibia. Twenty-eight animals had died after collisions. Fifteen Barn Owls died of exhaustion. In total, twenty-four birds were exhausted, with coccidiosis or other parasitic gastrointestinal infections. The condition of the birds showed that as the birds' condition worsened, fat reserves were depleted before protein reserves. Significant linear relationships were found between decreasing protein reserves and decreasing dry weights of the liver, kidney, flight muscle and heart, but not of the tibia. An asymptotic, nonlinear relation was observed between dry organ weight and fat reserve. This suggested that fat reserves were only found when protein reserves exceeded 15% of the body mass at starvation. Concentrations of Cu and Fe in liver and kidney rose as protein reserves fell; the total content of Cu and Fe per organ, however, remained constant. The Mn concentration of these organs remained constant; Mn content increased with increasing organ sizes. Neither Cd nor Pb showed a clear relationship with parameters of body condition. The ratio between the organ content of Pb or Cd and the dry organ weight, however, revealed some birds from contaminated habitats. The findings suggested that concentrations of environmental contaminants should be measured on a dry weight basis. Furthermore, depending on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of a contaminant, the total content of that contaminant per organ can be more informative than the concentration. In this one year sample of Barn Owls, no indications were found of toxic levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, or Fe in the Netherlands. It is concluded that the Barn Owl is a suitable biomonitor. Furthermore, a network of volunteers can produce an informative sample of the Barn Owl population without interfering with the population.

Heavy metals in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) from two acidified lakes in the salpausselk� esker area in Finland

Hg concentrations in muscle and Cd, Pb, Al, Zn and Fe concentrations in muscle, liver and kidney ofPerca fluviatilis from two acidified lakes in the Salpausselka esker area in Southern Finland were studied. The metal concentrations in perch from the Tiilijarvi lakes were similar to those in other acidified Finnish lakes. Only Hg concentrations correlated strongly with the age and size of perch. The need for age correction in studies on the Hg concentrations on perch was noticed. The highest concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn occured in kidney and those of Al and Fe in liver.

Interactive Effects of Dietary Copper, Water Copper, and Eimeria spp. Infection on Growth, Water Intake, and Plasma and Liver Copper Concentrations of Poults

The effects of dietary Cu, water Cu, and coccidial infection on poult growth performance and selected tissue mineral concentrations were investigated in a 10-d experiment using 200 5-d-old Nicholas toms (five replicates of 5 poults each; initial weight = 85 g). Uninfected and coccidiosis-infected (Eimeria meleagrimitis, Eimeria dispersa, Eimeria adenoeides, and Eimeria gallopavonis; cocci) poults were assigned to two levels of dietary Cu [Basal (B) and B + 204 mg Cu/kg diet on Days 1 to 10] and two levels of water Cu (0 and 103 mg Cu/kg water on Days 6 to 10). Dietary Cu and water Cu (main effects) did not affect (P > .10) gain, feed intake, gain:feed, water intake, hemoglobin, hematocrit, or liver Fe and Zn concentrations. Dietary Cu and water Cu increased (P < .03) liver and plasma Cu concentrations. The combination of dietary Cu and water Cu increased plasma Cu more than the sum of the Cu additions (dietary Cu by water Cu, P < .08). Coccidial infection reduced (P < .07) gain, feed intake, gain:feed, water intake, and hemoglobin, and increased (P < .02) liver Zn. Water Cu reduced water intake in uninfected poults but increased water intake in coccidiosis-infected poults (water Cu by cocci, P < .07). Water Cu increased hemoglobin in uninfected poults but decreased hemoglobin in coccidiosis-infected poults (water Cu by cocci, P < .07). Water Cu increased plasma Cu and liver Cu more in coccidiosis-infected poults than in uninfected poults (water Cu by cocci, P < .02). Simultaneous supplementation of feed and water with Cu increases plasma and liver Cu concentrations in coccidiosis-infected poults.

Essential and toxic element concentrations in fresh and formalin-fixed human autopsy tissues

The concentrations of five essential elements and six potentially toxic elements were determined in seven organs collected at autopsy from 30 human subjects. Elemental analyses were carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, and concentrations in fresh and formalin-fixed tissues were compared. Formalin-fixation long-term storage has little effect on most element concentrations in tissue, except for Al and Mn, which changed with prolonged storage in formalin. The kidney and liver contained the greatest concentrations of toxic elements compared with other organs, whereas the essential elements were uniformly distributed among all organs. There was no more than a 10-fold difference in the tissue concentration of the elements studied among the organs, except for the concentration of Fe in liver, and Ca and Mg in bone. We also demonstrate that these elements are homogeneously distributed in tissues.

Zinc Status and Interleukin-1 -Induced Alterations in Mineral Metabolism in Rats

Changes in zinc (Zn) metabolism and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) release occur as part of the physiological response to tissue injury and trauma. In the present study, the influence of Zn status on the response to continuous low-dose IL-1 beta administration was evaluated. Rats were fed 50 micrograms Zn/g (adequate zinc; AZn) or 5 micrograms Zn/g (marginal zinc; MZn) diets for 14 days. On day 15, rats were infused via osmotic minipumps, with IL-1 beta (2.3 ng/hr) or saline (control, C) and euthanized 1, 3, or 7 days later. In the AZn rats, IL-1 beta infusion resulted in increased plasma copper (Cu) concentrations and ceruloplasmin (Cp) activity, and decreased iron (Fe) concentrations throughout the 7d period. These effects were most pronounced on d1 and d3. A similar trend was observed in the MZn rats, but IL-1 beta-induced increases in plasma Cu and Cp activity were less than in the AZn fed rats. In MZn and AZn IL-1 beta infused rats, plasma Zn was decreased on Day 1, and Day 3, respectively, compared with their respective controls. AZn IL-1 beta-infused rats were characterized by high liver Fe, Zn, and metallothionein (MT) concentrations on Day 1; by Day 7, only MT concentrations remained elevated. Liver MnSOD activity was 13%-29% higher in both the AZn- and MZn-IL-1 beta-infused rats than their respective controls on Day 3 and Day 7, with most significant increase observed on Day 7. These data show that Zn status can influence the response to low-dose IL-1 beta; this influence of Zn should be considered when IL-1 beta is given therapeutically.

Relationships between Maternal and Fetal Liver Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc Concentrations and Fetal Development in California Holstein Dairy Cows

Associations between maternal trace element deficiencies and abortion have been made for many mammalian species. Objectives of this study were to estimate and correlate maternal and fetal hepatic Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations through gestation. Additionally, aborted fetuses, stratified by cause of abortion (infectious or noninfectious), were compared to size-matched nonaborted fetuses to examine for magnitude and direction of change in hepatic trace element status. Dam and fetal liver were removed at slaughter from 103 Holstein dairy cows judged grossly normal by ante- and postmortem examination. Liver samples were collected from fetuses submitted by veterinarians for routine diagnosis of abortion (n = 80). Hepatic Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were determined by flame spectrophotometry. Comparisons of groups, estimations of correlations, and derived prediction equations were made by least-squares methods. Maternal liver Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations did not vary during gestation. Compared with the dam, fetal liver Fe and Zn concentrations were higher (P < 0.05), fetal Cu concentrations were similar (P > 0.05), and fetal liver Mn concentrations were lower (P < 0.05). As fetal size increased, fetal liver Cu and Zn concentrations increased (P < 0.05), fetal liver Fe concentration decreased (P < 0.05), and fetal liver Mn did not change (P > 0.05). Aborted fetuses had lower liver Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations than did nonaborted fetuses (P < 0.05). Liver Fe concentration was lower in aborted fetuses than in nonaborted fetuses in the second trimester only (P < 0.05). Consistently lower liver Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations in aborted fetuses suggest a nonspecific change in trace element status, which implies an effect of abortion, not a cause of abortion.

The effects of supplementary copper and a mineral mix on the development of lupinosis in sheep

Lupinosis in grazing sheep is often associated with a potentially deleterious increase in the concentration of copper in the liver. Siromin�, a mineral mix developed by CSIRO for sheep on dry herbage and containing Cu at 116 mg/kg, was tested for its suitability for use with sheep consuming toxic lupin stubble, taking particular regard for dangers of Cu toxicity. There were three dietary treatments applied at two levels (either present or absent) to 40 Merino wethers for 8 weeks. Treatments consisted of adding Cu (10 mg Cu as CuS04/kg), minerals (25 g/kg as Siromin�) and toxic lupin stubble (50 g/kg) to a basal diet consisting of oaten hay and lupin seed and containing 3 mg/kg of Cu. Toxic lupin stubble decreased feed intake and growth, increased plasma activities of liver enzymes and increased plasma concentrations of protein, globulin, bilirubin, Cu and Zn. It also decreased concentrations of Zn and Fe in liver, but had no effect on Cu. The mineral mix had no adverse effects on any signs of lupinosis, and it did not increase liver Cu concentration at either level of dietary Cu. The mineral mix prevented the inappetence caused by lupinosis in sheep fed the low Cu basal diet. Cu treatment resulted in increased concentrations of Cu and Fe in liver, and exacerbated some signs of lupinosis. The results show that the mineral mix is safe to feed to sheep grazing toxic lupin stubble, and it may provide a practical means of supplying additional Zn. The exacerbation of signs of lupinosis by the addition of only 10 mg Cu/kg as CuS04 suggests that under field conditions the supply of Cu in the absence of suitable amounts of molybdenum and sulfur should be kept to a minimum.