Effect of Stable Strontium on the Tissue Alkaline and Acid Phosphatase Activities of Rat: Feeding Studies

The effect of feeding stable strontium (Sr) on the tissue alkaline and acid phosphatase activities was studied in young rats. These activities were reduced in liver and small intestine by 10% to 15% at 2 weeks, 20% to 30% at 4 weeks and in kidney by 20% at 6 weeks only in rats fed 2% Sr diet; bone alkaline phosphatase activity was, however, increased by 80% to 100% (2–6 weeks) in these rats. Gross lesions like paralysis, hemorrhage, rickets and high mortality were observed after 4 to 6 weeks. Although no such lesions were seen, appreciable changes in enzyme activities as mentioned above were discernible in rats fed 1% Sr diet for 6 weeks. Feeding of a 0.5% Sr diet for a period up to 6 weeks had no deleterious effect. Recovery following consumption of a normal diet for 2 weeks was almost complete in liver and small intestine but not in kidney. The elevated tissue Sr levels do not explain the pronounced losses seen in this investigation as compared to those in the earlier in vitro experiments. This study depicts the possible damage due to prolonged therapeutic use of large amounts of stable Sr for the removal of radiostrontium.