Abstract
Health effects for populations in depleted uranium-polluted areas and uranium mining areas have been reported and concerns of toxic effects on children have been increased. Uranium exhibits nephrotoxicity. The dynamics and distribution of uranium in kidney, however, have not been clearly understood. There is a little difficulty to find a suitable analytical methodology for the measurement of α-particle radionuclides e.g. uranium at trace levels in tissues. To overcome all problems, we have selected synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis using high-energy incident X-rays and inductively coupled argon plasma-mass spectrometry for detecting a small amounts of uranium in renal samples. In the present study, time course studies of uranium distribution in kidney and renal damage were examined in new born and young (3-weeks old) rats exposed to uranium acetate.
After subcutaneous injection of uranium acetate at a dose of 2 mg as uranium/kg, uranium levels in kidney of the young rats were higher than those of the new born rats. While TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the proximal tubule of both the rats, the positive areas spread more in the young animals. These results suggest that there is an age-difference in renal damage induced by uranium.
