X-ray fluorescence in the assessment of inter-elemental interactions in rat liver following lead treatment.

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique was employed to study the interactions of lead (50 and 100 mg/kg body wt) with K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br and Rb in rat liver. Lead was administered orally to rats daily for dosage periods of 1 and 4 months (short and long terms). Hepatic Fe levels were found to increase significantly with the supplementation of low and high doses of lead for both the treatment periods, although the increase was more pronounced following long-term treatment. The levels of hepatic K, Cu and Br were seen to decrease significantly over both time intervals. Moreover, hepatic Rb contents were lowered with the short-term supplementation of low doses of lead. In contrast, Rb and Zn levels were increased when lead was administered for the longer period at both dose levels.

Trace element distribution in rat brain following lead and lithium supplementation--a study using an EDXRF spectrometer.

Distribution of K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br and Rb in whole brain samples following combined Pb and Li administration to female Porton rats has been investigated by using the Energy Dispersive x-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Brain K, Cu and Rb levels are diminished, whereas Fe and Br levels are enhanced significantly following short-term (1 month) and long-term (4 months) combined treatment with Li (1.1 g/kg diet) and two doses of Pb (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight). The Zn levels are lowered following combined treatment with Li and both the doses of Pb given for short-term only.

Biokinetics of iodine-131 in rat thyroid following lead and lithium supplementation.

The impact of lead as an environmental pollutant on the I-131 uptake and retention in rat thyroid was assayed alone and in combination with lithium treatment. Lead treatment significantly stimulated the 2- and 24-h uptake of I-131 in the thyroid, and the 24-h uptake showed the maximum stimulation after 3 mo of lead treatment. On the contrary, lithium supplementation reduced the uptake significantly and the maximum decrease was noticed after 2 mo of lithium administration. Further, simultaneous lead and lithium treatment resulted in more pronounced increase in the uptake of I-131 by the thyroid, which was maximum after 3 mo of combined treatment. The thyroid biological half-life of I-131 (Tbiol) was found to be increased significantly following lead and lithium treatments when given separately. Interestingly, combined lead and lithium treatment given up to 2 mo further prolonged the Tbiol of I-131, thus reflecting its increased retention.

Effect of automobile exhaust on the distribution of trace elements and its modulation following Fe, Cu, and Zn supplementation.

The effect of automobile exhaust on the distribution of trace elements with special reference to Pb and its modulation following Cu, Zn, and Fe supplementation, in mouse organs, has been studied using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique. Seven elements, namely K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, and Pb, were detected in all the organs. The maximum concentration of Pb was found in lungs followed by that in liver and kidney. The effect of automobile exhaust was found to be significant on the concentrations of Fe and Pb; their concentrations were found to increase in all the organs. However, the concentrations of Cu and Zn were found to be decreased significantly in the liver. In the animals given Fe, Cu, or Zn supplementation along with motor exhaust, the percentage change in the concentration of Pb in lungs was decreased, and that of Fe was increased significantly. In kidney, no significant change was observed for the animals given Cu and Zn, whereas for animals given Fe, the level of Pb decreased significantly. In liver, the reduction in the level of Zn in the exhaust-exposed animals was made up and the level of Pb was reduced following Zn supplementation. These results clearly indicate that Fe and Zn play an important role in Pb metabolism and tend to lower the absorption of Pb. The effect of Fe is more pronounced than that of Zn, whereas the effect of Cu seems to be insignificant.