ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) are involved in regulatory systems in the cell. Their role in neuromodulator activities and redox reactions has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to determine changes of Zn, Cu and Mn levels in brain tissue, blood and urine after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The possible importance of these trace minerals on the pathogenesis of SAH was also discussed. METHOD: Rats were divided into three groups; namely a SAH group, a control group and a normal group. Blood samples in the SAH group and normal saline in the control group were injected into the cisterna magna. No surgical procedures were performed on the normal group. Brain tissue, blood and urine samples were measured for trace minerals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Measurements were taken on days 3, 7 and 10 after the onset in the control and SAH groups, and on the first day in the normal group. FINDINGS: The reduced blood Zn levels and increased Zn urine loss observed in the SAH group were conspicuously significant. Furthermore, significant changes in Mn levels were also seen at different stages of the trial in the SAH group. However, differences found in the Cu levels between the groups were not significant enough to explain the results. INTERPRETATION: These results suggest that the low blood Zn levels seen throughout the stages, the low brain tissue Mn levels seen during the latter part of the trial, and the low blood Mn levels observed during the early stages, may all be related to an increased risk in experimental SAH in rats. These differences may have possible role in the pathogenesis of SAH, and further investigations into the reduced blood Mn levels observed during the study may lead to new insight into the treatment of SAH.
Subject(s)
Brain/metabolism , Copper/metabolism , Manganese/metabolism , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/metabolism , Trace Elements/metabolism , Zinc/metabolism , Animals , Brain Chemistry , Cerebrospinal Fluid/chemistry , Cerebrospinal Fluid/metabolism , Copper/blood , Copper/urine , Disease Models, Animal , Disease Progression , Down-Regulation , Manganese/blood , Manganese/urine , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Risk Factors , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/blood , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/urine , Time Factors , Trace Elements/blood , Trace Elements/urine , Zinc/blood , Zinc/urineABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to determine the chromium concentrations of soil and plant specimens taken from a rural area exposed to cement factory emissions and also to determine the blood concentrations and sensitivity conditions observed in humans residing in this rural area. The study was carried out in Cukurhisar, a town in Eskisehir-Turkey, between May 2000 and March 2001. Besides the 108 soil (36 for control) and plant specimens, which were taken from eight different directions from the cement factory, blood samples of the individuals residing in this area were taken from 258 subjects (258 for control) following a physical examination, and patch tests were also applied. The chromium concentrations of the soil and plant specimens taken from different places in different directions of the factory were higher than in the control areas. The physical examination of subjects did not reveal results different from those of the control group except for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis. The analyses of venous blood samples showed that chromium concentrations were found to be within the reference values given for both groups, but higher in the subjects (P<0.001). According to the results of patch tests, sensitivity to chromium was found to be more frequent for the subject group than the control group (P<0.05). According to these results, clinical tools revealed no toxic effects for the subjects, except contact dermatitis. However, sensitivity to patch tests showed that this subject group has been affected compared to the control group and that this effect increased with age.
