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Effects of aluminum on phosphate metabolism in rats: a possible interaction with vitamin D3 renal production

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Abstract

The effect of chronic aluminum (Al) administration on the phosphorous (Pi) metabolism of different target tissues was studied. Male Wistar rats received aluminum lactate for 3 months (5.75 mg/kg bodyweight of Al, i.p., three times per week). The animals were studied at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd month of treatment. They were housed individually in metabolic cages for 4 days to study Pi and calcium (Ca) balance. Daily food and water intakes were recorded for all animals and urine and feces were collected for Pi and calcium assays. After 3 months the Pi intestinal absorption and the Pi deposition in bone were studied using 32Pi. Another group of rats was treated daily for 7 days with calcitriol (0.08 μg/kg body weight in sesame oil, i.p.) and the Pi balance was studied for the last 4 days. The results indicated that chronic administration of Al affected simultaneously the Pi and calcium balance, with a significant diminution of calcium and increased Pi accretion in bones, together with a diminution in the intestinal absorption of Pi. The treatment of the rats with calcitriol promoted a normalized Pi balance in Al treated rats. These findings suggest that Al could modify the Pi metabolism acting directly on intestine, kidney and bone, or indirectly through possible changes in the levels of vitamin D3.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant CAI+D (Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Paraje El Pozo, (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Stella T. Mahieu, Julio Navoni, Néstor Millen, María del Carmen Contini & Marcela Gonzalez

  2. Farmacología, Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), 531–2000, Suipacha, Rosario, Argentina

    María Mónica Elías

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  1. Stella T. Mahieu
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Correspondence to María Mónica Elías.

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Mahieu, S.T., Navoni, J., Millen, N. et al. Effects of aluminum on phosphate metabolism in rats: a possible interaction with vitamin D3 renal production. Arch Toxicol 78, 609–616 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-004-0579-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-004-0579-7

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