Purified reference diets for weanling rats: effects of biotin and cellulose.

Standardized purified diets limited to required nutrients are needed for nutritional and toxicological studies. In the present study, we formulated a biotin- and cellulose-free diet of reproducible mineral composition (diet A), based on diet AIN-76, and fed it to weanling Long-Evans rats for 3 wk. Inductively coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometry was used to determine Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Zn in liver, duodenum, kidney, spleen and femur. Results were compared with those obtained with rats fed biotin- and/or cellulose-supplemented variations of diet A, diet AIN-76 and diet NIH-31 (an open-formula stock diet). Weanling rats grew slowly and steadily on purified diet A. Growth rates increased when diet A was supplemented with biotin and cellulose. In general, differences among tissue mineral levels in rats fed diet NIH-31 and those fed diet AIN-76 were more pronounced than those among groups fed our purified diets. Values for hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in rats fed all purified diets than in those fed diet NIH-31. Diets A + biotin, A + cellulose and A + cellulose + biotin appear satisfactory as reference diets for measuring mineral interactions at near-requirement levels as well as effects of fiber on mineral utilization or for studies on vitamins whose endogenous synthesis may be influenced by dietary fiber.

Development of a quality assurance program for determination of ultratrace background levels of lead and cadmium in raw agricultural crops by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

Data on the background levels of lead and cadmium in the food supply are essential in order to establish a baseline from which to evaluate the extent of contamination in transport, processing, industrial atmospheric particulate fallout, and soil treatment (e.g., fertilizers, sewage sludge, etc.). This requires the establishment of site selection and sampling criteria as well as the development of a rigorous analytical method capable of performing routine analyses of Pb and Cd at ultratrace levels. The method used in this study, which was published previously, was designed to provide high sample throughput with minimal contamination. This involved control and measurement of blank levels and the establishment of quality control procedures to maintain confidence in the accuracy and precision of the method.

Trace element studies in weanling rats: maternal diets and baseline tissue mineral values.

The initial nutritional status of experimental animals can influence their response to subsequent dietary regimens. In the present study, we determined the variations in minerals in diet NIH-31, a breeding colony stock diet, and in tissues of weanling rats nursed by dams fed this diet. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine nine elements (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P and Zn) in diet and in liver, kidney, spleen, duodenum and femur from 22- to 26-day-old rats. Wet digestions were performed in mixtures of nitric, perchloric, and sulfuric acids (diets and soft tissues) or nitric and perchloric acids (femur). Solution concentrations ranged from less than 25 ng/ml for the trace elements to greater than 100 micrograms/ml for the major elements. Large variations in mineral content were found between batches of commercially prepared NIH-31 diet; relative amounts of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn varied markedly. Significant differences in concentrations of major and trace minerals in liver, kidney, spleen and duodenal tissue were found among groups of weanling rats obtained from the same supplier at different times. Mn was readily quantitated in all tissues except spleen, where it was below detection limits. The precision obtained with the ICP-AES methodology has significant advantages for establishing variations in tissue mineral levels.

Determination of lead in bonemeal by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry using a hydrochloric acid solubilization.

A safe, rapid method is described for the determination of lead in bonemeal. This method uses a hydrochloric acid solubilization performed under pressure followed by determination by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. This provides an alternative to a nitric-perchloric acid wet ash. Data obtained using both methods are compared. The mean recovery of a standard Pb spike was 99.2 +/- 7%. The concentration of Pb in bonemeal ranged from 1.0 to 15.6 micrograms/g.

Hydride generation and condensation flame atomic absorption spectroscopic determination of antimony in raw coffee beans and processed coffee.

A method was developed for determining Sb at nanogram per gram levels in raw coffee beans and processed coffee. The procedure uses either total acid digestion or extraction with 6M HCl followed by hydride generation/condensation with subsequent revolatilization of stibine (SbH3) and detection by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The lowest quantifiable level, based on a 2 g (dry weight) sample, is 2 ng Sb/g. The results of recoveries on spiked samples, precision studies on composited coffee samples, and the analysis of National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference Materials demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the procedure. Sb concentrations in coffee samples were verified by neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Advantages of the method compared with the AOAC colorimetric procedure and hydride generation without condensation are discussed.

Determination of background levels of lead and cadmium in raw agricultural crops by using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of ultratrace levels of lead and cadmium in selected agricultural crop samples by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Samples are dry ashed at high temperature with H2SO4 as an ashing aid. Techniques are described to control the lead and cadmium blank levels of 2 ng and 0.4 ng, respectively. Typical relative standard deviations for the crop analyses are 13% at 100 ng/g and 25% at 10 ng/g for lead, and 5% at 100 ng/g and 10% at 10 ng/g for cadmium. The lowest quantifiable level, based on 3 g dry sample, is 2 ng/g for lead and 1 ng/g for cadmium. Recovery studies, precision studies, and analyses of NBS Standard Reference Materials demonstrate the accuracy and reproducibility of this technique. A summary of results for over 1700 crop samples is reported.

Microwave-induced plasma coupled to a tantalum-strip vaporization assembly for trace element analysis.

This report describes a tantalum-strip assembly coupled to a microwave-induced plasma. Detection limits obtained for several elements by using the apparatus are given. A procedure using bomb decomposition and chelate extraction in conjunction with the tantalum-strip assembly/microwave-induced plasma system for the determination of trace elements in samples with complex matrices is also described. Recoveries from spiked standards are given.