[Effect of various cadmium doses in the diet on the body of growing rats]

Studies were carried out on the effect of various cadmium doses, which were given to growing rats in diet. A 42-day biological experiment was carried out on male growing Wistar rats. The animals divided into groups were given diets containing cadmium in amounts of 50, 100 and 200 ppm and diet with no adding cadmium. The diets contained 20% of protein in equal amounts from wheat gluten and casein. It was demonstrated that cadmium had a significant influence on diet intake and growth of rats. The absorption from diets containing 50, 100 and 200 ppm of cadmium was about 30 to 48%. The more cadmium was absorbed, the most was in blood and rat liver. Anaemia was noted in animals, which were given diets with cadmium. Rats had a low level of haematocrit and haemoglobin in plasma. It was shown that cadmium intake caused a significant decrease in plasma albumin concentration and increase of plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity.