I

Asiatic Herpetological Research

June 1995'

Vol. 6, pp. 62-68

Studies on the Distribution of Trace Elements inAgkistrodon blomhoffii brevicaudus Stejneger
JIN LIN
11,KE-MIN XU> AND DONG-GEN LIU 2

Department of Biology, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116022 China^Kunshan Snake Museum, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215334 China

Abstract: -The distribution of trace elements in various organs and tissues of Agkistrodon blomhoffii
brevicaudus Stejneger was studied by ICP-AES. The results show that there are more than 17 kinds of traceelements in the snake, namely, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Se, Sr, Al, Si, Al, Ni, Ba, Co, Pb, Ge, Cd, Mo, La, etc.
The amount of each kind of trace element is quite different in the various organs and tissues. The contents ofZn, Fe, Al and Cr have the highest value; Cu and Mn have the medium value; Se, Sr, Si, Ba, Pb, Ge and Mo
have the lower value; and Ni, Cd, Co and La have the lowest value. The results suggested that thedistributional characteristics of trace elements in Agkistrodon blomhoffii brevicaudus Stejneger correspondwith the snake's physiological and biochemical functions.

Key words: Reptilia, Serpentes, Agkistrodon blomhoffii brevicaudus Stejneger, China, trace elements.
transferred into a 10 ml graduated tube byIntroduction

adding double distilled water.

According to recent literature, there are
four species which belong to the genus
Agkistrodon in northeast China. They areA. blomhoffii brevicaudus Stejneger, A.
saxatilis Emelianov, A. shedaoensis Zhao,
and A. ussuriensis Emelianov (Zhao andThe trace elements of all samples weremeasured through ICP-AES (Leeman Co.,USA). The data was analyzed with a microcomputer, then they were randomly
arranged as a trace elements graph.

Adler, 1993). Xii et al. (1993) reported thedistribution of trace elements in A
shedaoensis Zhao and A. ussuriensis

Results.

Emelianov and the results showed that there
existed interspecific differences. This paper
reports the quality and quantity observations

The results show that there are morethan 17 kinds of trace elements, such as Cu,

comparative physiology and contribute also

Zn, Fe, Mn, Se, Sr, Al, Si, Ni, Ge, Cd,Ba, Mo, Co, Pb, Cr and La in variousorgans and tissues of A. b. brevicaudus.
The contents of each kind of trace elementsin the various organs and tissues are as

to the classification of pit- vipers.

follows:of trace elements in the various organs andtissues of A. b. brevicaudus Stejneger. It
will provide experimental data for

Materials and Methods

Four specimens

ofAgkistrodon

blomhoffii brevicaudus were provided by

Kunshan Snake Museum

atKunshanJiangsu Province, China in
The snakes wereDecember, 1993.
decapitated and various organs and tissues
were freshly removed. All samples, exceptserum, plasma and bile, were stored in an
incubator at 105°C for 5 hrs., cooled down
and weighted after incubation. Then, thesamples were immersed in mixed acid
(HN03 HC1=4 1) for 24 hrs, then heatedcontinuously until clear and transparent, andCounty,::© 1995 by Asiatic Herpetological Research

Skin, Muscle and Skeleton.

The trace element graphs of the skin,muscle and skeleton are very similar, butthey still have their own characteristics. The
contents of Zn, Fe and Al are higher in skin,
the order is Al > Fe > Zn, and the Al content
in skin is the highest among all organs andtissues. The contents of Cr, Mn, Cu, Pb
and Ba have a medium value, and Se, Sr,Ni, Ge, Cd, Mo and La have a lower value
in the skin.
The trace elements showed
different contents in the different segmentsof the skin (Figs, la, lb, and lc).

The skeletal muscle has more Fe and Zn
and less Al, compared with those of the
Other elements have no moreskin.
differences.

Vol. 6, p. 63

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchJune 1995

Ge can not be tested out (Fig.

2).

There are more Zn, Sr and Ba and less
Fe, Al and Cr found in the skeleton than in
the skin and skeletal muscle. The skeleton

has more Sr than inother organs andBut, Ge and La can not be tested
out in the vertebrae (Figs. 3 and 4).
tissues.

Cardio-Vessel System, Lung and Trachea.

MoinBesides, the contents of Fe andthearethe liver and Zn in the pancreas

highest among all the samples. It suggeststhat the liver is the important place to storeFe.

Kidney and Reproductive Organs.
There is a large amount of Mn, Se, Baand Cr in these organs, but very little of Si,
Ni, Cd, Mo and Co (Figs. 22-25).
Furthermore, there are more Zn, Fe, Al, Cu
and Pb in the oviduct, Fallopian tube anduterus than in the kidney.

The similarity of elements distribution in

The Al content of the kidney is similar tothe cardio-vessel system, lung and trachea isthe presence of more Zn, Fe, Al and Cr,then Cu and Mn, and less Ni, Ge, Cd, Mo,
Co, and La (Figs. 5-10).

that of the digestive tract, but clearly lessthan that of the skin.

There are more contents of Cu, Zn, Feand Al found in the heart, vessel and lungthan in the blood and trachea. But, thecontents of Ge and Se are the opposite. TheCu content in the heart is ahead of the otherorgans, and La and Ge can not be tested out
in the lung and trachea.
It reveals that most trace elements arefound in bile, e.g., Cu, Mn, Se, Sr, Al, Ge,Ba, Mo, Pb, Cr, especially Cu, Ba, Mo,Pb, and Cr are much more than those in theserum. The Cr content is the highest among
The La and Cd can not be
all samples.
tested out in the serum (Figs. 6 and 10).

Digestive Tract, Liver, and Pancreas.

The contents of Zn, Fe, Al, Mo and Cr
found in the digestive tract and mesentery
have a medium value, then the Cu, Mn, Se,Sr, Ba, and the other elements are verysmall (Figs. 16-21). The Al content isobviously less than that of the skin.

The liver, spleen and gall-bladder have
similar contents of trace elements. They
contain considerable amounts of Zn and Fe.
The other elements, like Se, Sr, Si and Ge,
are more than those of the digestive tract,mesentery and other organs. There are nodifference of Cu,Mn, Se, Ni, Ba, Co, Pb

and La among them (Figs. 11-15).

Brain, Spinal Cord and Poisonous Gland.

The graph of the brain resembles that of
the spinal cord; both contain abundantelements in the order of Zn > Fe > Cr > Cu

> Al > Mn > Se > Sr > Ni > Ba. The Fecontent of the brain is just lower than that of
the liver, but the Ge and La in the brain can
not be tested out (Figs. 26 and 27).

The Zn content in the poisonous gland ishigher than that of the brain and spinal cord,
and the La content is the highest among all
can not beSe, Ge andsamples.

Mo

examined (Fig. 28).

DiscussionThere are 17 kinds of trace elements
found in Agkistrodon
blomhoffii
The
brevicaudus through ICP-AES.
contents of each element are quite different
Thein the various organs and tissues.
results showed that the trace elements are theimportant parts of life substances in thesnake. And, the distribution characteristicsof trace elements correspond with theanimal's physiological and biochemicalfunctions.

There are abundant amounts of Zn, Fe,
Al and Cr, then Cu, Mn, Se and Sr found in
the organs and tissues, especially in the
cardio-vessel system, lung, liver, spleen,
brain, oviduct, etc. It suggests that theseng'g

Fig. laSkin of Neck

Hgg200-200-150-

L50-100100-5050-

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La
Hg g

June 1995

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 6, p. 64

Fig.

lc.

Skin of Abdomen

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr lj&Fig.

(ug g2UMuscle

Mo Co Pb Cr .a
I

Rib

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Fig. 6.

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr I.aSkeletalu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd BaFig 4

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Skin of Thorax

u Zn Fc Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb CrFig.

(lbSerum

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr I.aHg 8Vol. 6, p. 65

Asiatic Herpetological Research

June 1995

Pig

7.

PlasmaFig. 8.

Vessel20015010050 Hu"n*\Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr la
Fig. 9.

Lungu.gg(u Zn Fe11ug gSpleenMn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo "o Pb Cr la(Fig.

Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo ( o Pb Cr La

Trachea

12BileCu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni (}c Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Fig( 'u10Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr laFigFig.

14Gall Bladder

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Cie Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

(2058)Fig

15Liver

Fig.

Fig.

17.

StomachFig. 18.

Ileum

ng gMesentery

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

DuodenumFig. 20.

1-arge Intestine

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr la

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Fig. 21Oesophagus

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr LaFig. 19.

16.

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si N*i Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr la

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Or La

Hg g

June 1995

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 6, p. 66

Hgg

Fig 22.

IterusCu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

June 1995

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 6, p. 67

Fig 24( 'uZn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Fig. 25.

Hg g

Cu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr LaFig 26Kidney

OviductSpinal Cord

200150100

50 H^\(u Zn FeMn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr \jaCu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr LaFig 28.

(u Zn Fc

Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr U

Poisonous GlandCu Zn Fe Mn Se Sr Al Si Ni Ge Cd Ba Mo Co Pb Cr La

Vol. 6, p. 68

June 1995

Asiatic Herpetological Researchelements have a close relationship to thegrowth and development, the metabolicprocess, the enzyme synthesis andreproduction. But, how the trace elements
take part in the regulation of physiologicaland biochemical functions and which is theessential or non-essential element needs tobe further studied.

Literature CitedXU, K. M., Y. K. ZHAO, J. LIN, AND J. L. LI.
1993. Studies on the interspecific differences in thedistribution of trace elements in various organs

between Agkistrodon shedaoensis Zhao andAgkistrodon saxatilis Emelianov. Pp. 68-74. In
Proceedings of the First Asian Herpetological
Meeting (eds. Zhao, E. M., B. H. Chen, and T. J.
Papenfuss).
Chinese].

China Forestry Press, Beijing.

There contains much more Al (just lessthan Zn and Fe) in most organs and tissues,
especially in the skin; and the Al contents inZHAO, E. M. AND K. ADLER.

the heart, lung, spleen etc. are higher thanof China.

those in the kidney and digestive tract. Itshow that the skin can collect Al. The
authors thought that the skin of A. b.
brevicaudus may be the place to store andexcrete Al. It is known that Al is harmful tohumans and mammals, but what is thereason for the high Al content in the body ofthe snake is still a question to be solved.

Contributions to Herpetology 10. 522 pp.

The characteristics of element graphs inbalanced content of mostis theandthere contain more Cu, Cr,elements,bile

Ge, Pb, Sr, Cd and Mo than those in otherthe organs and tissues. The ratio of Cu/Zn(2.00) is the highest among the organs. The
results may be due to the concentrating

mechanism of bile.
In addition to morphological differences,
there are also changes in metabolic activity

between species due to the divergence of thegenetic constitution, ecological surroundings
and living habits. So, the authors suggestthat trace element detecting is a way to helpclassify the pit-vipers.

[In1993. Herpetology

SSAR in cooperation with CSSAR,