Use of the enriched stable isotope Cr-50 as a tracer to study the metabolism of chromium (III) in normal and diabetic rats

The activable enriched stable isotope Cr-50 compound Cr2O3 was used as a tracer to study the metabolism of chromium(III) [CR(III)] intragastrically administered in normal and diabetic rats. The comparison of absorption, distribution, and excretion in organs and tissues of the two groups do not show much alteration, but some differences exist indeed. The contents of Cr-51 radioactivity of the diabetic rats appear to be of higher retention than in most studied organisms. The urinary Cr-51 excretion of diabetics is significantly higher than that of normal rats. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn that the insulin-dependent rats generally absorb and excrete more chromium (Cr) than the normal rats.