Tissue metal shifts by a single exposure to metals in rats

Intraperitoneal pretreatment with a large dose of Cd, Zn, Hg, Mn or Ag remarkably depressed the lethal effects of X-ray. The CHX pretreatment before metal challenge depressed the lethal effects of X-ray more remarkably. Therefore, metal-binding protein may not play an important role in protective effects of metal pretreatment on the lethal effects of X-ray, but quantum mechanical characters of metals may do so.