Determination of some trace elements in different organs of normal rats

White rats weighing 200 to 220 g were used for this study. After decapitation the brain, heart, lung, kidney, spleen and liver were removed. They were immediately weighed, placed into liquid air and lyophilised during 24 hrs. Lyophilised tissue samples were measured to 100 mg lots and sealed into silica ampoules. The samples and the corresponding element standards tested by preliminary qualitative radio-activation analysis were packed into Al-cans and irradiated for 4 days by a thermal neutron flux 1.5x1013 n.cm-2.sec-1. After irradiation, tissue samples were cooled for 7-10 days prior non-destructive analysis via Ge(Li) spectroscopy. The results of trace element distribution of Cr, Zn, Br, Sb, Fe, Co, Sc, Ag and Na in liver, spleen, brain, lung, kidney and heart of normal rats are presented. The distribution of these trace elements in the various normal rat organs was studied. Iron content is the greatest in spleen; however, if the content of this element is observed in an organ as a whole there is more iron in liver than in the other organs studied. Zinc was the highest in kidneys, chromium was almost identical in liver and spleen tissues, while the most of antimony and mercury were to be found in liver. The analysis of the results revealed that liver, with expection of cobalt (which was mostly detected in kidneys) is the organ containing the greatest quantities of the microelements observed. (T.G.)