Chronic Effect of Aluminium Ingestion on Bone in Calcium‐Deficient Rats

Abstract

In order to elucidate the relationship of osteogenesis with aluminum and iron deposition, we investigated the histopathological findings of bone in calcium and/or aluminium-deficient rats, together with levels of calcium, aluminium and iron in sera and bone tissues, and also the level of serum parathyroid hormone. Four week old male STD-Wistar rats were divided into four groups to examine the effects of four kinds of diets for ten weeks. The rats on normal diet (Group I) and normal diet+aluminum (Group II) did not show any pathological changes of the bones, but in both calcium-deficient diet group (Group III) and calcium deficient diet added aluminium (Group IV), the compact bone converted into spongy bone in varying degrees, particularly in Group IV. Aluminium deposition was demonstrated at the calcification fronts and the cement lines only in Group IV as red or violet-red lines with aluminium stain, together with iron deposition as revealed with Berlin blue stain, showing similar distribution pattern as aluminum. It was clearly indicated that aluminium and iron, instead of calcium, deposited on the calcification front of the bone under the condition of calcium deficiency, inhibiting the normal osteogenesis.

Aluminium toxicosis: a review of toxic actions and effects

“…Decreased Al urinary excretion caused by impaired renal function with, possibly, an increase in gastrointestinal absorption of Al results in increased Al load leading to markedly increased bone Al levels and the presence of Al between the junction of calcified and non-calcified bones (Alfrey, 1993). Longterm oral exposure to Al results in an increase in Al levels in the bone (Ahn et al, 1995;Konishi et al, 1996) that is responsible for the bone disease.…”

Effects of Various Aluminium Compounds Given Orally to Mice on Al Tissue Distribution and Tissue Concentrations of Essential Elements

“…After administration to mice of 900 mg Al, Golub et al (1995) found lower Fe levels in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Konishi et al (1996), in addition to aluminium also detected Fe in the frontal region of bone mineralization.…”

“…Calcium-deficient diet causes increase in Al contents in serum and bones of rats, not given this element, probably due to bones of such animals being more fragile (Konishi et al 1996). Brown & Schwartz (1992) assumed that aluminium binds with ligands at the same sites as Fe 3π , and they observed significant Al increase in the liver and spleen of rats fed iron-deficient diet.…”

Relationship between osteoid formation and iron deposition induced by chronic cadmium exposure in ovariectomized rats

“…Fe deposition at the mineralization front of bones was reported in the aluminum‐induced osteomalacia of dialysis patients and in an animal model (Forero, Altamirano, & Ramos, 1998; Konishi et al, 1996; Matsushima, Torii, Ozaki, & Narama, 2003; Miyoshi, Saito, Bandobashi, Ohtsuki, & Taguchi, 2006; Pierides & Myli, 1984). Additionally, diseases characterized by iron overload such as thalassemia, hereditary hemochromatosis, and treatment of anemia caused bone loss in association with Fe deposition at the mineralization front (Mahachoklertwattana et al, 2003; Noda, Yasuda, & Kitagawa, 1991; Sato & Shiraki, 1998).…”