METALLIC MICRONUTRIENTS AND INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM.
Abstract
In order to evaluate biological effects of trace elements, mice and rats were exposed for their lifetimes to small doses of each of many essential and abnormal elements in drinking water, in a laboratory and on a regimen designed to avoid environmental contamination. Growth rates, survival and longevity, microscopic pathology of tissues, concentrations of trace elements in tissues, and in rats, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, glucose and uric acid, aortic plagues and lipids and tumor rates were measured or examined. As a result of this work, two prevalent human diseases have been reproduced in rats. (1) A model for human arterial hypertension has been developed in rats fed cadmium. The pathological and physiological criteria are similar: e.g. hypertension, cardiac enlargement and renal arteriolar hypertrophy and early sclerosis. The hypertension can be controlled by removing the renal cadmium by chelation and replacing it with zinc in the chelate. (2) A model for human atherosclerosis has been developed in rats deficient in chromium and fed refined white sugar. The physiological criteria are similar: e.g. relative hypercholesteremia which increases with age, and mild to moderate hyperglycemia. The pathological manifestations were an increased incidence of aortic plagues, and increased aortic lipids; this aspect is being intensively restudied. These three changes were prevented by the feeding of trivalent chromium. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0686297
Entities
People
- Henry A. Schroeder
Organizations
- Dartmouth College