Germanium, Tin and Arsenic in Rats: Effects on growth, survival, pathological lesions and life span

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Abstract
To evaluate innate effects of the trace elements germanium, tin and arsenic, 455 rats of the Long-Evans strain were fed a diet containing small amounts of these elements in an environment relatively free of trace contaminants. Groups of 100 or more, divided as to sex, were given 5 ppm germanate, arsenite or stannous ions in drinking water from weaning until natural death and compared with an equal number of controls. These levels were tolerable for growth. Innate toxicity in terms of life span and longevity occurred in females given tin and both sexes given germanium; increased incidences of fatty degeneration of the liver were observed for both these elements. Animals fed tin also showed an increased incidence of vacuolar changes in their renal tubules. Large amounts of arsenic accumulated in tissues, especially aorta and red blood cells, with no signs of toxicity. Tin accumulated to some extent and germanium less so. No element was tumorigenic or carcinogenic, there being somewhat fewer tumors in rats fed germanium than in the controls.

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