THE EFFECT OF AGING ON THE MINERAL STATUS OF FEMALE MICE

To clarify the effect of aging on the mineral status of female mice, m ineral concentrations in their tissues were determined. Five 2-mo-old, five 6-mo-old, and five 10-mo-old female B10BR mice were fed a commer cial diet. Iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassi um concentrations in the blood, liver, kidney, heart, brain, lung, and spleen of the mice were determined using a flame atomic absorption sp ectrophotometer. Iron concentrations in the liver, kidney, heart, brai n, and spleen increased with age. Significant differences were detecte d between mice 2 and 6 mo of age and between mice 2 and 10 mo of age. Zinc concentrations in the heart and lung decreased significantly with age. Zinc concentrations in the heart and lung of 10-mo-old mice were significantly lower than those of 2-mo-old mice. It is noteworthy tha t the copper concentration in the brain of 10-mo-old mice was markedly higher compared with that of younger mice. Calcium accumulation was a pparent in the kidney of mice at 10 mo.