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

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.