Postnatal changes in trace elements and in oxidation-reduction activity in laboratory bank voles

Abstract

, 1983 : Postnatal changes in trace elements and in oxidationreduction activity in laboratory bank voles. Acta theriol., 28, Examination was made of the concentrations of 10 trace elements (Fe, Zn, Co, Se, Sb, Eu, Cr, Hg, Sc and Ce) in the liver, kidneys and heart of the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) from spring and autumn generations, during the postnatal development (1-60 days of life). The voles originated from the 8-12th inbred generation kept under laboratory conditions. Two types of elements were distinguished, differing as to their contents in the dry mass of vole organs from compared generations of the same age. Elements of type I (Fe, Co, Se, Sc) were found in greater amounts in organs of autumn generation than spring generation voles, and elements of type II (Sb, Zn, Eu) -in voles of the spring than autumn generation. Maximum concentrations of elements occur in the organs of day-old or 10 day old voles, after which they decrease, during the period of development in the nest, parallel t.o changes in the oxidation-reduction activity of the organs. The activity of organs during postnatal development decreases from a high level to the low level characteristic of adult animals and reached by voles about the 30th day of life, being maintained to at least the 240th day of life. Autumn generation voles have a higher level of activity after birth, but as from the 60th day of life the activity of spring generation vole organs is greater then in those of the autumn generation. The reverse differences were found between wild voles of seasonal generations in comparison with laboratory voles.[Mammals Res. Inst., Polish Acad. Sci., Poland]