Hematological changes after long-term aluminum administration to normal adult rabbits

The effects of long-term aluminum exposure on erythroid parameters were investigated in a rabbit system. Healthy young adult male rabbits were maintained on drinking water containing five mg per L of aluminum citrate; others were treated with an intravenous solution of aluminum maltol, 0.225 mmol of aluminum per week. In the oral study, decreases in the hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red cell count were observed over a 12-month period in those animals on soft water with a low calcium content and containing aluminum citrate; however, no changes were seen in those on hard water containing aluminum citrate nor in rabbits maintained on a normal diet. Small amounts of aluminum were observed in bone marrow macrophages, usually accompanied by iron, in both the orally- and intravenously-treated animals. There was poor correlation between bone marrow aluminum content and length of exposure.