Arsenic distribution in rats fed a Hijiki diet

AbstractVery large doses of sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4), 14 mg As kg−1 of body weight, were administered to Sprague‐Dawley male rats (body weight 300 g) fed a 5% Hijiki diet by stomach tube twice within two days. After 24 h, the rats were sacrificed and various organs were dried for subsequent neutron activation analysis. The distribution of arsenic (As) in selected organs was determined by neutron activation analysis. The highest concentration of As was found in blood cells with a rather high concentration in the liver and heart. As the control, rats which were fed on a 5% cellulose diet were used. Control rats which were administered arsenate showed that the arsenic distribution and the concentration in their organs were similar to those on the 5% Hijiki diet. Even the blood cells of the controls without any arsenic administration were found to contain a small amount of arsenic.