Interaction between titanium and cadmium in various guinea pig organs

Titanium (Ti) is used in many fields, while cadmium (Cd) is known to cause the itai-itai disease. In the present study, possible interactions between titanium and cadmium were investigated. Aorta, taenia coli, and liver were removed from male guinea pigs. Muscle tension was measured using intact aorta and taenia coli and using β-escin-permeabilized taenia coli in a physiological salt solution and a hyperpotassium solution containing Cd and/or Ti. Cellular Cd contents were determined using all tissues after washout with EDTA solution. Cadmium-induced relaxation in the hyperpotassium solution recovered significantly (P < 0.01) following Ti treatment in taenia coli, but not in the aorta. In β-escin-permeabilized taenia coli, the percentage recoveries after Cd treatment and after Ti plus Cd treatment were 67.3 ± 8.7 % (n = 4) and 87.7 ± 3.8 % (n = 4), respectively, compared with Ca-induced control contraction. Cellular Cd contents in taenia coli decreased significantly following treatment with Ti 10(-4) M. Although similar results were obtained using the aorta and the liver, there were no significant differences between the control and Ti 10(-5) M. High concentrations of Ti may reduce cellular Cd content.