Subcellular localization of aluminum and indium in the rat kidney

doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2004.03.183

Applied Surface Science

Volumes 231–232, 15 June 2004, Pages 475-478

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2004.03.183 Get rights and content

Abstract

Previous studies, using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) have shown that several elements are selectively concentrated in the lysosomes of the proximal tubule cells (PTC) of the kidney. In these lysosomes the elements are precipitated as non-soluble phosphate salts, before being eliminated with the urinary flow as submicroscopic particles. However, in these studies, large, sub-toxic doses were administered, and this particular mechanism of “concentration–precipitation–elimination” was not initially considered as a physiological process, but, only as a pathological consequence of the toxic doses. Due to the high sensitivity of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), images can be obtained representing the distributions of these elements at a concentration several orders of magnitude lower than that required by EPMA.

Two elements, aluminum and indium, have been administered in the rats at very low doses. Analytical images were acquired using the University of Chicago scanning ion microprobe, and it has been shown that in a few hours, the lysosomes of the PTC are able to remove these two elements from the extracellular fluid, even when they are at a concentration at the ppm range in the plasma.

This mechanism of “concentration–insolubilisation–elimination” can be considered as a physiological process for the two studied elements.

Introduction

In a recent review, Berry [1] shows that a number of elements (group IIIA, lanthanides, actinides), some of them of high toxicity (aluminum, indium), are selectively concentrated in the lysosomes of the proximal tubule cells (PTC) of the kidney. As a result of the intralysosomial acid phosphatases activity, these elements are precipitated as non-soluble phosphate salts, before being eliminated with the urinary flow as non-solubles submicroscopic particles, and an original mechanism of “concentration–precipitation–elimination” has been proposed [2]. However, in these studies, using electron probe X-rays micro analysis (EPMA), only relatively large concentrations of the elements could be detected in the cells, large doses (subtoxic) of the metals had to be administered and the proposed mechanism was not initially considered as a physiological process, but, only as a pathological consequence of the toxic dose. Due to the high sensivity of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), images can be obtained, representing the distributions of these elements at a concentration several orders of magnitude lower than that required by EPMA, and the intracellular behavior of these elements can be studied after administration of very low doses. The results obtained after administration in the rat of two elements of the column III of the periodic chart, aluminum and indium, at a concentration in the ppm range, are presented here.

Section snippets

Experimental

Analytical images were acquired using the University of Chicago scanning ion microscope (UC-SIM). This instrument, using a liquid gallium ion source and a magnetic sector mass spectrometer, allows images of secondary ions (positive or negative) to be obtained with a resolution of the order of 50 nm [3]. Each image is composed of 512×512 pixels.

Kidney samples were obtained from rats, 6 h and 8 days after an intraperitoneal injection of 0.01 mg of indium sulfate, followed by a subcutaneous injection

Results

Aluminum and indium are easily detected in almost all PTC of the kidney, and in the tubular lumen of the proximal and distal tubules from the first hours to the eighth day. However, the intracellular distributions of the two elements are different.

Conclusions

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Indium is selectively concentrated in both the cytoplasm and the nuclei of the PTC although aluminum is only concentrated in the cytoplasm of these cells.
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Indium and aluminum are both at high concentrations in small volumes (submicron range) of the cytoplasm of the PTC, and precipitates of the same composition and of the same size are also observed along the tubular lumen. This pattern is the same as previously described by EPMA after administration of large, sub-toxic doses, strongly suggesting

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the “G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation”.

References (3)

J.P Berry
Cell. Mol. Biol.
(1996)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Applied Surface Science

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Experimental

Results

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References (3)

Cell. Mol. Biol.

Cited by (23)

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A pyrazole-containing hydrazone for fluorescent imaging of Al<sup>3+</sup> in lysosomes and its resultant Al<sup>3+</sup> complex as a sensor for F<sup>−</sup>

Toxicological effects and ultrastructural changes induced by lanthanum and cerium in ovary and uterus of Wistar rats

The role of lysosomes in the phenomenon of concentration of aluminum and indium in the female reproductive system. An ultrastructural study

The Development of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for Imaging