DISTRIBUTION OF NICKEL IN BODY-FLUIDS AND ORGANS OF RATS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO NICKEL SULFATE

1 Male and female rats were given 100 mg Ni L-l (as nickel sulphate) i n drinking water for 6 months. 2 The feeding of nickel was associated with an increased concentration of nickel in body fluids and organs. T he highest concentrations of nickel were found in the liver of both ma le and female rats. In male rats nickel levels decreased in the order: liver > kidney = whole blood = serum > testes > urine. In female rats the decreasing order was similar: liver > kidney = whole blood = seru m = plasma > urine 1 ovaries. 3 No significant differences were found between nickel concentrations in organs (except ovaries), blood and ur ine of rats exposed for 3 months and those exposed for 6 months indica ting the reaching of a steady state of nickel in the rat during long-t erm exposure. 4 The urinary excretion of the orally administered nicke l was only 2% of absorbed dose (supposing 1% Ni absorption).