THE EFFECT OF AGE ON ALUMINUM RETENTION IN RATS

The present study was designed to assess potential changes in aluminum (Al) retention during advanced age. Young (21 day old), adult (8 mont hs), and old (16 months) rats were exposed to 0, 50, and 100 mg Al/kg/ day administered as aluminum nitrate in drinking water for a period of 6.5 months. Urinary Al levels were measured after 3 and 6.5 months of Al exposure. Organ weights and tissue Al concentrations were examined at 6.5 months of Al administration. Differences in the tissue accumul ation of Al with age included higher liver, kidneys, spleen, bone and testes levels in old rats than in tissues of both young or adult anima ls. In contrast, brain concentrations were higher in young rats. Urina ry Al levels of young, adult or old Al-exposed rats showed different t rends at 6.5 months of Al exposure: compared with young values adult v alues declined, while those of old rats tended to increase further. Th e current results show that tissue Al retention patterns may be signif icantly altered depending on the age at Al exposure. This finding may be of concern for future investigations on the potential role of Al in certain neurological disorders. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd.