Effect of chronic oral cadmium exposure and withdrawal on cadmium residues in organs of mice.

Abstract

The effects of chronic oral administration of cadmium on kidney and liver residues in mice were studied. The mice were given either 0, 3, or 300 ppM cadmium as cadmium chloride in deionized drinking water for 10 weeks, and were given deionized water for the remainder of the study. The results showed that with 300 ppM Cd there was accumulation in liver and kidney tissue at approximately a 1 : 1 ratio. After 20 days withdrawal, cadmium residues in the liver declined, and by 180 days were approximately 50% of the concentration at the time of withdrawal. The concentration of Cd in renal tissue, especially in mice exposed to 300 ppM Cd, remained relatively constant, or was slightly increased during 180 days after withdrawal from Cd exposure. Thus the liver : kidney ratios changed to 1 : 1.5 at 40 days withdrawal and 1 : 2 after 180 days. For chronic exposure, the biological half life of Cd in liver tissue was approximately 180 days as compared to 43 to 63 days following single oral doses or injections of Cd, as reported by other workers.