Objective To test the changes of iron, zinc, and copper levels in rats exposed to indium-tin oxide (ITO).
Methods SPF Wistar male rats (n=24) were randomly assigned into three groups and intratracheally administered with 0, 3, or 6 mg/kg of ITO solution, twice a week, for eight weeks. The rats were euthanized serially up to eight weeks after the final instillation and followed by collecting samples of lung, liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and thighbone. After microwave digestion, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to determine the levels of indium, iron, zinc, and copper.
Results Compared with the control group, the indium levels in lung, liver, heart, spleen, and thighbone in the ITO 3 mg/kg group and 6 mg/kg group were higher (Ps＜0.05); the zinc levels in lung and kidney of the two exposed groups were lower (Ps＜0.05); the iron levels in lung and liver of the two exposed groups were also lower (Ps＜0.05). The copper/zinc ratios in lung, liver, and kidney of the ITO 6 mg/kg group were higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).
Conclusion After ITO exposure, the levels of zinc and iron in lung are reduced, and the copper/zinc ratio is increased, indicating imbalanced trace elements.
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