The effects of age and sex on seven elements in Sprague-Dawley rat organs

Abstract

SummaryThis study reports age-related changes in 7 element (iron, copper, zinc, manganese, mercury, cadmium and lead) concentrations in the liver, kidney and brain of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats from 1 to 364 days of age. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the measurements.Copper, mercury and cadmium in the male and female kidneys increased from weaning until 127 days of age, as did iron concentrations in the female liver and kidney. After 127 days, especially, the copper concentration in the female kidney and cadmium concentration in the male and female kidney increased further. Consistent and statistically significant ( P < 0 .05) sex differences in element concentrations were found for three elements (iron, copper and zinc). Except for the zinc concentration in the liver from SO to 72 days, iron (in liver and kidney), zinc (in kidney) and copper (in liver, kidney and brain) concentrations in female rats during the adult stage, were all higher than those of male rats. Isolated differences for other elements (manganese, mercury and cadmium) were also found.The data will be helpful when setting up longterm animal investigations of the biological effect of elements. Keywords: Rat; Ageing; Sex difference; Trace element; Atomic absorption spectrometryIn animal experiments, age and sex are basic ·Present address: Tokyo University of Agriculture,

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