Dose response of rat liver to low level cadmium.

Abstract

Acute exposure of mammals to a large cadmium dose is know to result in overt liver injury. This is preceded by the enhanced formation of metallothionein (MT) and possibly by changes in cellular glutathione (GSH). Moreover, disturbances in the metabolism of zinc, copper and calcium have been reported in various organs of mammals following large single or multiple subcutaneous or oral Cd doses. Recently, the liver has been considered also to represent a major target organ in long term Cd toxicity. The previously employed oral low level Cd dosage regimen (25 ug Cd per kg per day) resulted in hepatic Cd levels in rats which approximated those found in environmentally Cd exposed man. The objective of the present study was to investigate additionally the effect of a lower (2.5 ug Cd/kg) and a higher oral Cd dosage (250 ug Cd/kg) on liver thiols, essential metals and urea as a measure of the metabolic integrity of liver cells. Since in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that mitochondria may be affected by Cd these organelles were also investigated.