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By means of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) it is possible to measure in situ the relative concentration of a given element in a volume of 1 micron 3. Atomic Emission Spectrometry (AES) allows absolute quantitation of tissue homogenates. The use of both techniques lead to correlate relative and absolute elemental concentrations. These methods have been applied to lithium and manganese quantitation after treatments at a therapeutic dose. The results assess the sensibility of SIMS analysis, around 0.1 ppm in biological specimens, and confirm the adequacy of the instrument to trace elements study.

Impulsion polarography with anodic redissolution, a very sensitive means of dosage that is easy to repeat and more selective than atomic absorption, makes it possible to affirm the presence of bismuth in the bones after oral or parenteral treatment in 6 patients, 5 of whom suffered from osteoarthropathies that could be linked, given their nature, to the treatment administered, though this could not be proven. The presence of bismuth in the bone tissue of these patients must be considered in the physiopathological discussion of their osteoarthropathies, especially since none of them showed signs of encephalopathies.

Developments in polarography techniques over the last thirty years have enabled us to register outstanding increases in sensitivity: the order of concentration studies has evolved from 10(-3) g ions/1 to 10(-10) g ions/1. Pulse polarography with anodic stripping voltammetry is therefore particulary suitable for the determination of numerous metals which are to be found in extremely low concentration in biological samples which may be of limited volume e.g. blood. Our objects has been to describe and to apply in the case of silver a determination technique which would be sufficently sensitive, precise, practical and rapid for it to be easily used by biologists and toxicologists. A fortiori, this method may be applied in hydrology to the determination of these metals in water.

Pulse polarography has been applied to the determination of aluminium in bone. The sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility of the method are described. The results of bone aluminium concentrations in controls and in haemodialysed patients treated with aluminium compounds are discussed. Pulse polarography permits very precise measurements of aluminium impregnating bone.

Postnatal testicular and epididymal zinc concentration in the rat was investigated by means of differential pulse polarography. The zinc concentration increased gradually from birth to day 90 in the testis and up to day 60-90 in the epididymis with an abrupt increase on day 21. No marked variation in the zinc content was observed all along the epididymal duct. Experimental castration and efferent duct ligation were carried out in order to assess the influence of blood-borne and luminal androgens on epididymal zinc content. In prepubertal rats, unilateral castration and efferent duct ligation did not affect the zinc content of the epididymis. Moreover, zinc concentration was not affected by bilateral castration which induced very low plasma testosterone levels. These results suggested that epididymal zinc content did not depend upon endocrine testicular secretions, especially androgens. On the other hand, in adult rats efferent duct ligation and cryptorchidism resulted in about 50 and 70% reduction, respectively of the testicular and epididymal zinc content. A correlation was found between the absence of testicular fluid and spermatozoa or the alteration of germ cells and the decrease in epididymal and testicular zinc content.

Pulse polarography has been applied to the determination of aluminium in bone. The sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility of the method are described. The results of bone aluminium concentrations in controls and in haemodialysed patients treated with aluminium compounds are discuted. Pulse polarography permits very precise measurements of aluminium impregnating bone.