Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2006, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (1-English): 48-54.

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Preliminary determination of calcium, phosphorus, and the calcium/phosphorus ratio in cortical bone of Chinstrap penguin using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analysis

 Xie Zhouqing1, Cheng Bangbo1, Sun Liguang1, Huang Yuying2, He Wei2 and Zhao Sanping1   

  1. 1 Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China;
    2 Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
  • Online:1956-03-30 Published:1956-03-30
  • Contact: Xie Zhouqing

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Abstract:

Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) approach was applied to analyzing of Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis Antarctica) cortical bone. The method enabled the in situ determination of Ca and P concentrations and the Ca/P ratio in cortical bone. The preliminary results show that: (1) there is the bone site-related difference for Ca and P concentrations. The mean values for the investigated parameters (on a dry-weight basis) are: 30.7% (Ca) and 14.9% (P) for the femoral cortical bone, 21.4% (Ca) and 11.5% (P) for wing cortical bone. (2) The variation for the Ca/P ratio in cortical bone is lower than those for Ca and P separately. This is in agreement with the previous report that the specificity of the Ca/P ratio is better than that of Ca and P concentrations and is more reliable for the diagnosis of bone disorders. The authors suggest that further studies be conducted to establish normal values of Ca, P and Ca/P ratio for polar animals and provide a basis for the diagnosis of bone disorders.

Key words: synchrontron radiatioon X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF), penguin, bone, Ca, P and Ca/P ratio