Complete analysis of the trace elements of the kidney

The distribution of trace elements in kidney cortex and medulla and in their subcellular fractions was studied by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This technology allows the analysis of almost all the elements of the periodic table, along with their isotopes, in the same experiment. Acid digestion of the tissue (samples) was required before ICP-MS elemental analysis. Mineralization in 8 N nitric acid for 2 min in a Parr microwave acid digestion bomb, inside a regular microwave oven working at medium power, gave good sensitivity and reproducible results. Trace element determinations could be precisely performed, despite the presence of a considerable amount of organic matter. Cortex/plasma and medulla/plasma inorganic ratios were taken as indicators of the inorganic bioaccumulation. The highest enrichment factors of elements found in the cortex were Mn greater than Co greater than Tl greater than Zn greater than Rb greater than Mo greater than Cu and the highest element enrichments of the medulla were Tl greater than Mn greater than Co greater than Rb greater than Zn greater than Bi greater than Mo greater than Ni greater than Cu. Subcellular fragmentation of the kidney cortex and medulla indicated that the majority of the trace elements was located in the cytosolic fraction. The membrane fraction of the medulla contained significant amounts of Hg and Al: 120.7 and 32.0 mg/g protein, respectively. Cu and Zn were the most abundant trace elements found in the brush border membrane from the cortex: 120.7 and 68.2 mg/g protein, respectively. These quantities are largely in excess of what is bound, for example, to alkaline phosphatase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)