The effect of age on chemical element mass fractions in intact prostate of 50 apparently healthy 0-30 year old males was investigated by neutron activation analysis with high resolution spectrometry of short-lived radionuclides. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) for mass fraction (mgkg(-1), dry mass basis) of chemical elements before the time of puberty and in the period of puberty and post-puberty were: Br 46.0 ± 6.7, Ca 1151 ± 140, Cl 14572 ± 700, K 10147 ± 700, Mg 771 ± 131, Mn 2.13 ± 0.25, Na 9880 ± 659 and Br 29.0 ± 4.6, Ca 2049 ± 364, Cl 11518 ± 1121, K 13029 ± 542, Mg 1186 ± 134, Mn 1.74 ± 0.16, Na 9887 ± 716, respectively. A tendency of age-related increase in Ca, K, and Mg mass fraction and of age-related decrease in Br mass fraction was observed in period of life from 0 to 30 years. This new data indicates that of the elements studied, only the Ca, K, and Mg mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter.
Keywords: Neutron activation analysis; Pediatric and young adult prostate glands; Trace elements.
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