The influence of altered homeostasis on mammary gland rubidium concentrations in dogs

Abstract

Rubidium is an alkaline metal with exceptional chemical activity. Together with lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium, it belongs to group I of the periodic table of elements. The aim of this study was to provide data on the rubidium content in normal mammary gland tissue and adenocarcinomas and to elucidate the effects of altered homeostasis on this element in the course of mammary gland neoplastic disease in dogs. The investigation was performed to confirm the hypothesis put forward in human research that this metal is cumulated in neoplastic tumours of the mammary gland. The research material included post mortem collected healthy mammary glands of bitches and mammary gland neoplastic tumours obtained during routine surgical treatments as well as during necropsies. The content of rubidium was determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The highest rubidium content was observed in the tissues with neoplastic lesions, where it averaged 10.72 mg kg-1 wet mass. In the healthy tissues, the content of this metal was on a much lower level. The mean rubidium concentration in mammary glands without pathological changes was 1.91 m kg-1 wet mass. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P=0.01) in the rubidium content between the investigated groups. Higher rubidium concentrations were observed in the tissues with neoplastic lesions. This phenomenon is similar to disturbances of the ionic balance observed in the case of breast cancer in women.

The content of selected metals in muscles of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Poland

“…Due to being widespread, rubidium may substitute potassium in metabolic reactions, which may disturb their proper course. Even though the importance of rubidium for animals is not clearly understood, studies performed so far have indicated that Rb may be an essential element but the margin between its necessary and toxic level is very narrow (Angelow 1994 ; Kośla et al 2002 ; Milman et al 2006 ; Skibniewska et al 2012b , 2013b ). The mean content of rubidium in muscles of analysed red deer was lower than that reported by Jarzyńska and Falandysz ( 2011a ).…”