Abstract
Normally, only very small amounts of ingested aluminium are absorbed and accumulated. Despite the percutaneous absorption of many drugs and chemicals, the skin has not been considered as a possible site at which aluminium could enter the body. Application of low aqueous concentrations of aluminium chloride (AlCl3, 6H2O) (0.025–0.1 μg/cm2) to healthy shaved Swiss mouse skin for 130 days led to a significant increase in urine, serum and whole brain aluminium, especially in the hippocampus, compared to control animals. This percutaneous uptake and accumulation of aluminium in the brain was greater than that caused by dietary exposure to 2.3 μg per day in feed and water. In vitro studies demonstrated the passage of aluminium through viable mouse skin. This study shows for the first time that aluminium is absorbed through the skin of mice in vivo and this contributes to a greater body burden than does oral uptake.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Bolla KL, Briefel G, Spector D, Schwartz BS, Weiler L, Herron J, Gimnez L (1992) Neurocognitive effects of aluminium. Arch Neurol 49: 1021–1026
Crapper Mc Lachlan DR, Lukiw WJ, Kruck TPA (1989) New evidence for an active role of aluminium in Alzheimer’s disease. Can J Neurol Sci 16: 490–497
Diaz-Nido J, Avila J (1990) Aluminium induces the in vitro aggregation of bovine brain cytoskeletal proteins. Neurosci Lett 110: 221–226
Fleming LW, Stewart WK, Fell GS, Halls DJ (1982) The effect of oral aluminium therapy on plasma aluminium levels in patients with chronic renal failure in an area with low water aluminium. Clin Nephrol 17: 222–227
Ganrot PO (1986) Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminium. Environ Health Perspect 65: 363–441
Graves AB, White E, Koepselle TD, Reiffer BV, Van Belle G, Larson EB (1990) The association between aluminium containing products and Alzheimer’s disease. J Clin Epidemiol 43: 35–44
Heubers HA, Finch CA (1987) The physiology of transferrin and transferrin receptors. Physiol Rev 67: 520–582
Ihle BU, Becker GJK (1985) Gastrointestinal absorption of aluminium. Am J Kidney Dis 6: 302–305
Jacqmin H, Commenges D, Letenneur L, Barberger-Gateau P, Dartigues JF (1994) Components of drinking water and risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol 139: 48–57
Kao J, Hall J, Shugart LR, Holland M (1984) An in vitro approach to studying cutaneous metabolism and disposition of topically applied xenobiotics. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 75: 289–298
Kobayashi S, Hirota N, Saito K, Utsuyama M (1987) Aluminium accumulation in tangle-bearing neurons of Alzheimer’s disease with Balint’s syndrome in a long-term aluminium refiner. Acta Neuropathol 74: 47–52
Muma NA, Troncoso JC, Hoffman PN, Koo EH, Price DL (1988) Aluminium neurotoxicity: altered expression of cytoskeletal genes. Mol Brain Res 3: 115–122
Roskans AJ, Connor JR (1990) Aluminium access to the brain: a role for transferrin and its receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci 87: 9024–9027
Van Ginkel MF, Van Der Voet GB, De Wolff FA (1990) Improved method of analysis for aluminium in brain tissue. Clin Chem 36: 658–661
Wilhelm M, Ohnesorge FK (1990) Influence of storage conditions on aluminium concentrations in serum, dialysis fluid, urine, and tap water. J Toxicol 14: 206–210
Yase Y (1980) The role of aluminium in CNS degeneration with interaction of calcium. Neurotoxicology 1: 101–109
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anane, R., Bonini, M., Grafeille, J.M. et al. Bioaccumulation of water soluble aluminium chloride in the hippocampus after transdermal uptake in mice. Arch Toxicol 69, 568–571 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002040050214
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002040050214