M. Czauderna

Use of INAA to study the interaction between Ag and Se, Zn, Rb, Fe or Co in mice

The interaction of inorganic silver (as AgNO3) with SeO2 and Se-compounds was studied. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. Organ concentrations of Ag were always significantly higher 72 hours after simultaneous intraperitoneal injections with AgNO3 and Se-compounds. Moreover, simultaneous injections elevated the Se-content in organs examined. We suggest that Se-compounds protect against liver lesions by markedly decreasing the concentration of Ag in this organ 2 hours after simultaneous injections. It was also found that Ag supply affects the contents of Zn, Rb, Fe and Co.

The incorporation of Yb and Se into the brains of rats and their effect on the Zn level.

The concentrations of Yb, Se and Zn in the brains of rats were determined after the injection of ytterbium chloride and selenodiglutathione--single or together--by neutron activation analysis. Both Yb and Se were incorporated in all the investigated brain tissues and they also caused changes in the Zn concentration.

Interaction between Se and Cr and distribution of Zn, Rb, Co, and Fe in mice given chromate ions and selenium compounds

Male SAS/4 mice injected intraperitoneally with chromate ions and Se-compounds (i.e. selenodiglutathione, selenocystine, selenomethionine and SeO2). The distribution of Se, Cr, Zn, Rb, Co and Fe in liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, lungs, blood, small intestine and eyes has been studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Cr was incorporated in all investigated organs and the efficiency of the Cr-accumulation was affected upon the Se-injection. It was found that the mutual and indirect interaction occurs between injected Se-compounds and chromate ions. On the other hand, the interaction of Cr with Zn has been competitive. Injection with chromate ions affects the contents of Rb, Co and Fe in mice organs.

Use of neutron activation analysis for the determination of cesium in Pd electrodes on Pt and Au matrices

A method of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for the determination of Cs inside a thin Pd electrode deposited on a Pt or Au matrix is reported. This simple and rapid method involves a post-irradiation radiochemical separation of Cs from high activities of interfering radionuclides. The separated Cs was determined by high resolution γ-ray spectrometry. The method allows the determination of Cs without a time-consuming cooling period. The radiochemical procedure (RNAA) is found to be relatively highly precise, sensitive, rapid and simple. Pre-irradiative chemical separation of Cs is likely to be reasonable.

Use of INAA to study the effect of selenium on uranium accumulation in cells of saccharomyces cerevisiae

Differences in the effects of seleno-cystine (CySe)2 and inorganic Se(IV) and Se(VI) compounds on uranium(VI) uptake by yeast cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been studied. The Se, U, Zn and Co levels of the yeast cells were measured by neutron activation analysis. An increase in the concentration of U cells within the first 2 hours of incubation was produced by the presence of SeO2 (2·10−4–5·10−4M) and (CySe)2 (1·10−4M) in the yeast medium. Moreover, the highest SeO2 concentration (5·10−4M) and (CySe)2 more efficiently enhanced the U content of the cells than SeO2 at the low concentration end (2·10−4M). However, the effect of SeO2 and (CySe)2 on U uptake diminishes with incubation time (from 2 to 48 hours). Se(VI) [as (NH4)2SeO4] leads to a marked decrease in the content of uranium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (an antagonistic interaction). As expected, uranium uptake by the yeast influence the retention of selenium in the cells. Uranium significantly increased the uptake yield of Se by Saccharomyces cerevisiae when the yeast was incubated in the medium containing (CySe)2. Furthermore, during the initial 24 hours of the incubation an increase of the Se content of the cells in the presence of U was observed when Se(VI) was in the culture medium. Selenium and uranium dosages affected the Zn and Co contents of cells.

Studies on the differences in the effects of SeO2 and organic Se-compounds on the distribution of Hg, Co, Fe, Zn and Rb in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The interaction of inorganic mercury (as HgCl2) with SeO2 and organic Se-compounds is compared. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. Organ concentrations of Hg and Se were always significantly higher after simultaneous i. p. injections with HgCl2 and Se-compounds. Especially high abundances of Se and Hg in mice organs were found after simultaneous injection with Se-methionine and HgCl2. We suggest that Hg2+ ions are bonded by selenohydryl groups of the metabolites of injected Se-compounds. Binding yield of Hg2+ ions with metabolites of Se-compounds depends upon the chemical form of injected Se-compounds. Variations in the content of Zn, Co, Fe and Rb were observed in all the investigated organs after a single injection with HgCl2 or Se-compounds. Simultaneous injection with HgCl2 and Se-compounds affects the contents of these elements in comparison with single injections.

Variation of Se, Zn, Co, Fe and Rb distribution in rats after injection with selenium or sulfur compounds

Contents of Se, Zn, Co, Fe and Rb in liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain, pancreas and testicle of Wistar rats were determined 2 h after i.p. injection with selenodiglutathione, selenomethionine, selenocystine, selenocystamine, methionine, cystine and cystamine. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. It was found that Se was incorporated to all examined rat organs. High Se incorporation was observed after injection with selenomethionine and selenocystine. Variations in the Zn, Co, Fe and Rb contents were observed in all the investigated organs after the injections. These variations depended upon injected compounds.

The incorporation of selenium and ytterbium into some organs of mice determined by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of Se and Yb in the livers, kidneys, spleens and pancreases of mice were determined after the injection of selenodiglutathione and ytterbium chloride (singly or together) by neutron activation analysis. Both Se and Yb were incorporated into all the investigated organs and subcellular liver fractions. The highest Se level was found in the liver and kidneys and the highest Yb level was found in the pancrease and spleen.

Studies on the interaction between Se, Te, Cd, As and Zn and the distribution of Fe, Co, Rb and Hg in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The incorporation of Se and Te into liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, lung and small intestine after i.p. injections of Balby mice with seleno-cystine (CySe)2 and Na2TeO3 in the presence of Cd (as CdCl2), As (as As2O3) and Zn (as ZnSO4) has been studied. The change of contents of Co, Fe, Rb and Hg were determined in all investigated organs after injections with the above compounds. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied as the analytical method. It was found that a competitive interaction occurs between As and Se or Te. Similarly, this interaction has been observed between Se and Cd. The data obtained suggest that Cd has a higher competitive ability to displace Te than Zn and Se. Injection with the above compounds affects the contents of Fe, Co, Rb and Hg in all mice organs.

Multielement neutron activation analysis of biological materials using chemical group separation and Ge(Li) gamma spectrometry

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) for the determination of some trace elements in biological materials is described. The method presented permits the simple and rapid determination of Se, Ag, Au, Sb, Pt (via199Au), Hg, Co, Ni (via58Co), Fe, Zn, Mo, Sn, Cr, Cd, Cu and As after radiochemical separation from Na, K, Cs, Rb and partially Br. For this purpose, postirradiation separation by extraction with mercury or zinc amalgam was used. Separation of gold by extraction with ethyl acetate or by precipitation with dimethylglyoxime was applied for the determination of gold and platinum in biological materials.