Extent of cadmium accumulation and its effect on essential metals in liver, kidney, and body fluids

Abstract

Cadmium was injected sc into female Wistar rats at a dose of 3.0 mg Cd/kg body weight, 4 times a week for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 wk. Cadmium and five essential metals in the livers and kidneys were determined simultaneously by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Concentration of cadmium in the livers increased linearly up to 3 wk, remained at an almost constant and highest value (440 micrograms Cd/g wet liver) for the following 2 wk, and then decreased. The difference between cadmium in the whole livers and cadmium bound to heat-stable proteins was wider during the plateau than during the other periods. Cadmium in the kidneys was close to a plateau after 6 wk of injections. Concentrations of zinc in the livers and copper in the kidneys changed dramatically with injections of cadmium, and the changes were related to the changes in concentrations of the two metals in plasma and urine. Concentration of iron in the kidneys decreased with injections of cadmium. The content ratio of calcium to magnesium was high in the case of liver edema and was suggested to be an indicator. Cadmium in urine was assumed to originate from the liver in the case of high accumulation of the metal.

Interactions between copper and cadmium modify metal organ distribution in mature tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

“…This suggests a disturbance of the Cu metabolism which might involve interactions between Cu and Cd during binding to MT. Changes of the Cu content of the liver and kidney following single Cd exposure are known from studies on mammals (Suzuki et al, 1983;Chmielnicka et al, 1985), and eels (Gill et al, 1992). Our results demonstrate similar interactions in combined Cu-Cd-exposed fish which occur in mixtures at very low, environmentally relevant, metal concentrations.…”

Cadmium distribution and toxicity in tissues of small rodents

“…This effect, observed in the liver and kidneys of bank voles, was probably caused by an increase in metallothionein synthesis and intensive transportation of zinc from blood plasma to the liver and kidneys (Thijs et al, 1992). The same tendency was observed in the kidneys and liver of rats after repeated administration of cadmium (3.0 mg Cd/kg body weight) (Suzuki et al, 1983). An adverse effect was observed in the testes of bank voles, where the level of zinc decreased after 6 months of exposure, which may be caused by the dislodgment of zinc from enzymes (Kojima et al, 1992;Waalkes et al, 1992b).…”

“…Cadmium may produce histological changes in the kidneys, liver (Goyer et al, 1989;Suzuki et al, 1983), the gastrointestinal tract, testes, heart, blood vessels, bone marrow, and pancreas (Domino, 1994;Selypes et al, 1992;Ś wiergosz et al, 1998;Waalkes et al, 1992aWaalkes et al, , 1994. Sub-lethal effects such as reduced growth and anemia may also occur (Pleasants et al,Fig.…”

“…The decrease of Fe levels in the kidneys and livers of rats was observed after repeated injections of cadmium (3.0 mg Cd/kg body weight) (Suzuki et al, 1983). On the other hand, in fast-growing rats, a low iron level (6 mg/kg) in their diet caused a significant increase in cadmium accumulation in the liver and kidney (Schü -mann et al, 1996).…”

Accumulation of Cadmium in and Its Effect on Bank Vole Tissues after Chronic Exposure

“…An increase or decrease in the weight of organs such as the kidneys, liver, or testes is not a specific indicator of cadmium toxicity. However, in some experiments with cadmium, changes were observed in the weight of organs (Shirama et al, 1978;Suzuki et al, 1983;Groten et al, 1991;Pleasants et al, 1993).…”