QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Schroeder, H. A. Articles by Mitchener, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Schroeder, H. A. Articles by Mitchener, M.

Germanium, Tin and Arsenic in Rats: Effects on growth, survival, pathological lesions and life span¹

Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro, Vermont

To evaluate innate effects of the trace elements germanium, tin and arsenic, 455 rats of the Long-Evans strain were fed a diet containing small amounts of these elements in an environment relatively free of trace contaminants. Groups of 100 or more, divided as to sex, were given 5 ppm germanate, arsenite or stannous ions in drinking water from weaning until natural death and compared with an equal number of controls. These levels were tolerable for growth. Innate toxicity in terms of life span and longevity occurred in females given tin and both sexes given germanium; increased incidences of fatty degeneration of the liver were observed for both these elements. Animals fed tin also showed an increased incidence of vacuolar changes in their renal tubules. Large amounts of arsenic accumulated in tissues, especially aorta and red blood cells, with no signs of toxicity. Tin accumulated to some extent and germanium less so. No element was tumorigenic or carcinogenic, there being somewhat fewer tumors in rats fed germanium than in the controls.

² Address for requesting reprints: 9 Belmont Avenue, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301.

Manuscript received 21 February 1968.