Regional distribution of lead, zinc, iron and copper in suckling and adult rat brains.

The flameless atomic absorption method was applied to reveal regional differences in heavy metals between suckling and adult rat brains. The lead concentrations in the suckling brains were considerably different from those in the adult rats. The levels of lead concentration in the cerebrum and cerebellum of the normal suckling rats were 3-4 times higher than those of adult rats. Iron concentrations in the cerebrum of the suckling brains were approximately half those in the adult brains. Zinc and copper concentrations in medulla from the suckling rats were higher than those in the same region from the adult rats.