Changes in bone components of newborn rats after maternal treatment with cytarabine

Concentration of abundant elements like calcium as well as elements present in trace amount like zinc, iron, silicon, potassium in mandibles of 7, 14 an 28 day old newborn rats after maternal administration with cytarabine were determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. The studies were carried out using measurement system containing X-ray tube ECLIPSE-III and X-ray and gamma ray detector XR-lOOT-CdTe (Amptek Inc.). Concentrations of studied elements (Ca, Zn, Si, K, Fe) obtained for bones from cytarabine treated rats (3 mg/kg sc.) markedly differ from those obtained for bones from control group. Cytarabine administration during pregnancy disrupts bone ontogenesis and mineralization of new born rats. Remarkable changes in Ca, Si and Fe content strived for concentration level compared with this characteristic for the control group with time.