Rubidium is an alkaline metal with exceptional chemical activity. Together with lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium, it belongs to group I of the periodic table of elements. The aim of this study was to provide data on the rubidium content in normal mammary gland tissue and adenocarcinomas and to elucidate the effects of altered homeostasis on this element in the course of mammary gland neoplastic disease in dogs. The investigation was performed to confirm the hypothesis put forward in human research that this metal is cumulated in neoplastic tumours of the mammary gland. The research material included post mortem collected healthy mammary glands of bitches and mammary gland neoplastic tumours obtained during routine surgical treatments as well as during necropsies. The content of rubidium was determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The highest rubidium content was observed in the tissues with neoplastic lesions, where it averaged 10.72 mg·kg-1 wet mass. In the healthy tissues, the content of this metal was on a much lower level. The mean rubidium concentration in mammary glands without pathological changes was 1.91 mg·kg-1 wet mass. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P≤0.01) in the rubidium content between the investigated groups. Higher rubidium concentrations were observed in  the tissues with neoplastic lesions. This phenomenon is similar to disturbances of the ionic balance observed in the case of breast cancer in women.

18.4.2013