EFFECT OF ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE ADMINISTRATION ON NORMAL MICE - TISSUE DISTRIBUTION AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL-LOCALIZATION OF ALUMINUM IN LIVER

In order to assess the risk of parenteral aluminium (Al) exposure, we evaluated the effects of intraperitoneal administration of aluminium h ydroxide, a compound widely used in medicine. Mice (strain Pzh:SFIS) r eceived intraperitoneally, every two weeks 1 mg Al or 0.1 mg Al for fi ve days a week. Controls received injections of saline. Al concentrati ons in liver, bone and brain were evaluated by electrothermal atomic a bsorption spectrometry after exposure to 2 mg, 4 mg, and 6 mg Al. The concentration was the highest in liver and occurred after exposure to only 2 mg A1(265.1 +/- 27.7 mg/kg, 233.5 +/- 28.0 mg/kg). Generally fu rther accumulation was not dose- and treatment-dependent. The only exc eption was a significant Al increase in the liver after exposure to 6 mg Al, injected 0.1 mg Al five days/week. Development of resorption gr anulomas was observed in the liver, Al being revealed by Morin fluores cence in constituent macrophages and giant cells. By electron probe X- ray microanalysis, Al was identified predominantly in lysosomes of mac rophages and Kupffer cells. In tibia of mice, a dose-dependent Al accu mulation was observed. The highest level of Al concentration after the 6 mg treatment was 23.5 +/- 3.82 mg/kg and 25.06 +/- 2.3 mg/kg. The A l concentration in the brain of mice had not changed significantly dur ing Al treatment.