[Study on essential metal concentration in the organs of rats (report 1)]

Concentration of 5 elements (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn) in 10 organs (brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, testis, thymus, salivary gland and bone) and serum of rats were determined by inductively-coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP). Samples were digested with nitric acid and perchloric acid in a sealed double Teflon vessel with polypropylene jacket by heating with a microwave oven. The concentration of 5 elements in the organs can be grouped into 5 categories as follows. (1) heart, liver and spleen (Mg > Fe > Ca > Zn > Cu) (2) lung and kidney (Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn > Cu) (3) brain, thymus and testis (Mg > Ca > Fe = Zn > Cu) (4) serum and bone (Ca > Mg > Fe = Zn > Cu) (5) salivary gland (Ca = Mg > Fe > Zn > Cu).