Concentrations of toxic metals and trace elements in the meconium of newborns from an industrial city

Objective: To investigate fetal exposure to toxic metals [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd)] and fetal levels of trace elements [zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe)] in newborns from an industrial city. Relationships between meconium mineral contents and parental occupation and location of residence were also tested. Method. The meconium mineral contents of 117 healthy newborn infants were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results:The median concentrations (interquartile range) of toxic metals and trace elements in the meconium were as follows: Pb: 46.5 (1,399) mu g/g dry weight (wt), Cd: 2.3 (55.6) mu g/g dry wt; Zn: 234 (3,049) mu g/g dry wt; Cu: 11.8 (818.7) mu g/g dry wt, and Fe 105 (2,980) mu g/g dry wt. All the meconium samples contained both toxic metals and trace elements. The proportions of trace elements in the meconium samples with concentration higher than 100 mu g/g dry wt of the substances tested were Zn 90%, Cu 64%, and Fe 53%. There were significantly positive correlations between the concentrations of toxic metals and trace elements. Also there were positive correlations between the levels of Zn, Fe, and parental occupations, and between the level of Fe and location of residence of the parents (proximity to the petroleum refinery or the dye industries). Conclusion:All the meconium samples were positive for toxic metals, and thus may reflect environmental pollution in the city. The occupation environments and the location of the family residence are linked with levels of trace elements in meconium. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Experimental stress-induced changes in trace element levels of various tissues in rats

In this study, we investigated the effects of acute and chronic immobilization stress on the Zn, Cu, and Fe levels of the temporal lobe, brain stem, spleen, and liver tissues in rats. The animals in the acute stress group were put in the cages, one time only for 120 min. For the chronic stress groups (2h and 4h), the rats were kept in the cages daily for 2 and 4 h, respectively, for 5 consecutive days. Controls and immobilized rats were decapitated, and then tissue samples were taken. Zn, Cu, and Fe levels in the temporal lobe, brain stem, spleen, and liver were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Our results showed that acute immobilization stress causes endogenous Zn and Cu release from the brain tissues. In the 2h chronic stress group, Fe levels markedly increase in the temporal lobe and brain stem whereas they decrease in the spleen and liver. In the 4h chronic stress group, Fe levels increase in the temporal lobe and brain stem while Zn and Cu levels increase in the spleen and liver. In the acute and chronic immobilization stress groups, mobilization of Zn and Cu can be related to the induction of metallothionein (MT) in the liver and spleen but not in the brain. On the other hand, excess Fe in the temporal lobe and brain stem causes us to believe think that the brain iron transport proteins may be involved, and enhanced, by immobilization stress

Neuropeptide Y alters stress-induced changes in trace element concentrations of brain in chronically immobilized rats

Central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) produces anxiolytic-like behavioral responses in the conflict test, elevated plus maze, fear-potentiated startle paradigm, and in the chronic immobilization stress. Exogenously administrated NPY also protects against the anxiogenic effects of corticotropin-releasing factor. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of centrally administered NPY on the trace element disturbances in brain tissues (frontal and temporal lobes and brain stem) and the other major organs including liver, spleen (zinc [Zn]-, copper [Cu]-, and iron-rich tissues), kidney, and stomach in chronically immobilized rats. The immobilization stress was performed in special cages in which the animals were not able to move. The rats in chronic stress and chronic stress + NPY groups were kept in the cages daily for 7 min for 15 consecutive days. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulas were placed to the right lateral ventricles of the rats by using stereotaxic method. In the control and chronic stress groups, 5 muL of saline (NaCl 0.9%), and in the chronic stress + NPY group, 8 mug NPY/5 muL saline solutions, were administered into the brain via ICV cannula, respectively. Controls and immobilized rats were decapitated 30 min after the injections were over and samples of tissue were taken. Zn, Cu, and iron levels of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, brain stem, liver, spleen, kidney, and stomach were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Zn and Cu levels were significantly increased in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and brain stem in response to chronic immobilization stress daily for 7 min for 15 consecutive days. The administration of NPY inhibited the elevation of Zn in these three parts of brain but did not affect the elevation of Cu in the frontal lobe and brain stem. Increases in Zn and Cu levels of frontal, temporal lobes, and brain stem may be related to induction of MT-I mRNA expression by chronic immobilization stress, and NPY may affect this induction of MT-I, altering corticotropin-releasing factor release in the stress conditions

Clinical approach in the diagnosis of hyperkeratosis cases in pigs

The study has been carried out on 36 pigs with skin lesion and 6 healthy pigs of mean age, 1-2 years and weighting 70-120 kg, fed with restaurant leftover around Ayazaga and Arnavutkoy districts of Istanbul. It has been observed that zinc level decreased significantly in the disease pigs, clinically pityriasis, thickening of skin and orthokeratosis were detected in 14 of diseased pigs. in addition, dermatitis was seen in different degree in 13 skin biopsies apart from clinical signs of parakeratosis