Nickel deficiency

Nickel sulfides are very similar to those of cobalt, consisting of NiS2 (pyrites structure, p. 680), Ni3S4 (spinel structure, p. 247), and the black, nickel-deficient Nii-j S (NiAs structure, p. 555), which is precipitated from aqueous... 

Nickel is considered essential to animals because it is present in the fetus or newborn, is homeostatically regulated, the metabolic pool of nickel is specifically influenced by hormonal substances or pathologic processes, certain metalloproteins contain nickel, and because nickel deficiency has been induced experimentally in certain species of birds and animals (NAS 1975 USPHS 1977 Kirchgessner and Schnegg 1980). In general, the nickel deficiency syndrome can be cured or prevented by trace amounts of nickel (NAS 1975). However, nickel administration may not be successful in reversing all abnormalities produced by nickel deprivation (USPHS 1977). 

In humans, there is no evidence of a nickel deficiency syndrome (USEPA 1985) or proof that nickel is essential (Norseth and Piscator 1979 Norseth 1986). 

Signs of nickel deficiency in the laboratory white rat (Rattus sp.) include retarded growth, anemia, a reduction in hematocrit and hemoglobin values, decreased enzyme activities (malate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alpha amylase), a reduction in liver total lipids... 

Domestic chicken, Gallus sp. to prevent nickel deficiency in chicks Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos More than 50 pg/kg ration 8, 9, 10... 

Nickel is an essential micronutrient for maintaining health in certain species of plants and animals. Its deficiency effects from dietary deprivation have been induced experimentally in many species of birds and mammals. To prevent nickel deficiency in rats and chickens, diets should contain at least 50 pg Ni/kg ration, while cows and goats require more than 100 pg Ni/kg rations, perhaps reflecting the increased use by rumen bacteria. Nickel deficiency is not a public health concern for humans because daily oral intake is sufficient to prevent deficiency effects. 

Anke, M., M. Gran, and H. Kronemann. 1980b. Distribution of nickel in nickel-deficient goats and their offspring. Pages 69-72 in S.S. Brown and F.W. Sunderman, Jr. (eds.). Nickel Toxicology. Academic Press, NY. 

Kirchgessner, M. and A. Schnegg. 1980. Biochemical and physiological effects of nickel deficiency. Pages 635-652 in J.O. Nriagu (ed.). Nickel in the Environment. John Wiley, NY. 

Stangl, G.I. and M. Kirchgessner. 1996. Nickel deficiency alters liver lipid metabolism in rats. Jour. Nutr. 126 2466-2473. 

Hornhardt, S., Schneider, K., Friedrich, B., Vogt, B. and Schlegel, H. G. (1990) Identification of distinct NAD-linked hydrogenase protein species in mutants and nickel-deficient wild-type cells of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16. Eur. J. Biochem., 189, 529-37. 

Nielsen FH, Myron DR, Givand SH, et al. 1975. Nickel deficiency in rats. J Nutr 105 1620-1630. 

It must be realized that actually for each oxygen ion built into the lattice, according to (i) a vacant lattice site must be created in the sublattice of nickel ions. This is due to the geometrical impossibility of accommodating excess oxygen in the lattice. Excess oxygen really means nickel deficiency. More complex notations than the notation used here are necessary to deal with this situation (51) but for our purpose we need not go into this. If now the ionization equilibrium... 

---