Effect of dietary iron-deficiency on the disposition of nickel in rats.

Nickel was given orally to iron-deficient and iron-sufficient rats and the levels of the metal in various tissues were examined at several time intervals. The results showed higher levels of nickel in the tissues of the iron-deficient rats, as compared to the iron-sufficient ones, 3, 6, 24, 48 and 120 h following gastric intubation of the metal. The results also showed higher levels of the metal in some tissues of iron-deficient rats than in iron-sufficient ones 24 h after intra-peritoneal nickel administration. A lower urinary excretion of nickel was observed in the iron-deficient rats given the intraperitoneal injections, as compared to the iron-sufficient animals. Our results indicate that nickel, at least in part, is taken up by the absorptive mechanism for iron in the intestinal epithelium. In addition, the iron-status appears to affect the uptake of nickel from the blood into the tissues.