The organ distribution of tin and the effect of tin on concentrations of several essential elements in rabbit.

The organ distribution and the effects of administration of tin, 5 mumol/kg/day, for 6 days on calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and zinc concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes, liver, kidney, and spleen of adult rabbits were studied. Kidney contained the highest concentration of tin, 15.0 +/- 1.64 micrograms/g wet weight (mean +/- S.D., n = 4). The concentrations of copper, phosphate, and magnesium increased significantly in the kidney, while magnesium concentration decreased in erythrocytes 1 day after the administration of tin for 6 consecutive days. A high correlation coefficient between magnesium and phosphate was observed in all organs tested. The correlation coefficients between P vs. Cu, P vs. Ca, and Mg vs. Ca in the liver were lowered during the period of tin administration, whereas those between P vs. Zn, Mg vs. Zn, and Cu vs. Zn in the kidney disappeared after tin administration was completed.