Cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in relation to protein calorie malnutrition

In this study, we compared results obtained in protein calorie malnourished (PCM) monkeys and controls given Cd2+ (5 mg Cd2+/kg body wt./day) orally for 24 weeks. After 16 weeks of Cd2+ exposure, an indolent renal failure develops in PCM monkeys which resulted in significant increase in urinary excretion of total protein, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+ as compared to corresponding to Cd(2+)-treated control group. In isolated proximal tubule brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV), Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+ transport were significantly impaired in Cd(2+)-exposed PCM monkeys as compared to Cd(2+)-treated controls. The mechanism of higher urinary excretion of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+ was examined by analyzing the kinetic parameters of transport systems. The kinetic studies of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+ transport systems in the BBMV preparations of Cd(2+)-exposed PCM monkeys exhibited a significant decrease in Vmax and an appreciable increase in Km as compared to Cd(2+)-treated controls. These findings suggested that Cd2+ treatment of PCM monkeys caused either a decrease in the number of transporters in the brush border membrane or an increase in the number of less active transporters for Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+. Furthermore, brush border membrane-bound enzymes, viz. alkaline phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase, activities were significantly impaired in Cd(2+)-exposed PCM monkeys. Cadmium content in kidney cortex of Cd(2+)-exposed PCM monkeys was 3.34-fold higher than Cd(2+)-exposed controls. These findings also established that Cd2+ not bound to metallothionein (MT) was significantly higher in Cd-exposed PCM monkeys, which may be an important determinant in renal toxicity by interacting with sensitive sites in the renal cells and causing renal damage in Cd-exposed PCM monkeys.