This study explored some toxicological aspects of vanadyl sulphate (VOSO4) treatment of rats made diabetic with a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Administered in drinking water (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1 mg of VOSO4, 5H2O ml) VOSO4 treatment partially or totally corrected some of the alterations associated with the diabetic state (hyperglycaemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, high cholesterol and triglycerides levels) and did not produce any changes in various plasma or blood cell parameters which were not previously altered by diabetes. Measurement of vanadium levels indicated that tissues accumulated vanadium in the following order of concentrations: bone greater than kidney greater than spleen greater than liver greater than lung greater than or equal to muscle greater than blood. Histopathological studies did not reveal any difference in liver, stomach, ileum, spleen, heart and lung from control, non-treated diabetic or VOSO4-treated diabetic animals. Kidney of all non-treated diabetic animals showed an epithelial cellular swelling of distal tubules while only 2 of 6 VOSO4-treated diabetic animals showed this alteration. Cellular degeneration of pancreas B-cells was less marked in VOSO4-treated that in non-treated diabetic animals. The study indicates that VOSO4 may be a potential antidiabetic agent.

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A simple method for direct routine determination of aluminum in wine by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described. This procedure allows good sensitivity by inclusion of a cool-down step before atomization. The detection limit obtained with a single-beam apparatus was 1.5 μg/L. Recoveries of aluminum in red, white, and fortified wines ranged from 91.7 to 109.5%. Aluminum was determined in 98 red table wines from the south of France. The mean aluminum content was 0.763 mg/L (range, 0.25–2.55 mg/L). In addition, the ability of the wine to dissolve the aluminum in the crown cap was shown.

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