Effects of hepatic disorder on the fate of cadmium in rats

In order to test the possibility of metallothionein (MT) transfer from liver to kidney, experimental hepatic disorders produced by hepatotoxins were examined to study the release of MT from liver. 109Cd exposed rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and the distribution of cadmium (Cd) in the body was studied. Hepatic Cd was significantly decreased corresponding to the dose of CCl4. Cd in plasma, kidney, and urine was increased remarkably in contrast with the decrease of hepatic Cd. No remarkable changes in Cd of other tissues and feces were observed. These phenomena were produced by other hepatotoxins like galactosamine and ethionine, and long-term administration of Cd, too. In every case that plasma Cd increased markedly, plasma levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) rose simultaneously, and a significant, positive correlation between Cd concentration and each of enzyme activities in plasma was observed. Cd in hepatic supernatant of CCl4 treated rats was bound mostly to MT fraction, and in kidney, plasma or urine, Cd was also in the form of MT. These results suggest that hepatic MT can be released into blood in the same manner as hepatic enzymes and transported to kidney and urine in some types of hepatic disorders.