title: [Analysis of trace elements in liver, spleen and brain of rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the level of five trace elements(Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+) in the liver, spleen and brain of the rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 rats were randomly and equally divided into two groups: normal group and experimental group. On the 64th day after injection of 1.5 x 10(6) T. gondii/2 ml, all of the rats were killed and the atomic absorption method were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the normal group, the level of Cu2+ in liver in experimental group was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the amount of Fe2+ of sick rats were higher than that of the normal (P < 0.01). No differences in the content of Zn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ between the experimental and control group were determined; the level of Fe2+, Cu2+ in spleen in experimental group was significantly altered (P < 0.01). The amount of Mg2+ of sick rats were higher than that of the normal (P < 0.01), and no difference on the content of Zn2+, Ca2+ between the experimental and control group were estimated; the level of Fe2+, Cu2+, Mg2+ in brain in experimental group was significantly reduced (P < 0.01). The amount of Ca2+ of sick rats were higher than that of the normal (P < 0.02). No difference on the content of Zn2+ between the experimental and control group were estimated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T. gondii infection might cause changes in trace elements in the liver, spleen and brain of rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogenobiology, Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun 130021.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements