Effects of cadmium administration on the endogenous metal balance in rats

The concentrations of cadmium and other metal ions in selected organs, urine, and blood of female rats were measured after exposure to cadmium chloride through their diet or by oral or intravenous administration. The hematological and urinary variations were followed for 4 wk. Body weight gain and the weights of livers and kidneys from all treated groups were not significantly different from the controls. No gross morphological changes were observed in any of the tissues studied at necropsy. The accumulation of cadmium occurred in the liver and kidney. The zinc levels in these organs were elevated relative to controls, in all treated groups regardless of dose and exposure route. Copper was elevated in the liver, kidney, bone, and blood of animals subject to intravenous administration of cadmium. Hepatic iron was decreased in the dietary and orally treated groups, but was not affected in the intravenous study group. The level of magnesium in kidney was increased for all exposure routes, but that of liver was increased only in the intravenously injected groups. The changes in the concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus did not follow a specific pattern and varied from organ to organ, depending on the exposure route. The discussion includes a relationship between tissue injury and the alteration of tissue essential element concentrations.