The morphologic effects of chronic cadmium administration on the renal vasculature of rats given low and normal calcium diets

Abstract

Male rats fed normal (0.7%) or low (0.1%) calcium diets were allowed access to drinking water containing 0, 0.2, 2, 20, or 200 ppm cadmium as cadmium chloride for 6 or 12 wk. Constriction of smaller renal arteries, mild dilation of larger arteries, and a diffuse, dose-related, scarring of peritubular capillaries were the most prominent morphologic alterations observed. Arterial constriction was most marked at 6 wk and appeared to subside by 12 wk. Deposition of peritubular connective tissue fibers was most marked in the 12-wk groups. These observations were correlated with dose-dependent renal cadmium concentrations and statistical increases in blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Kidneys of treated rats on the low calcium diet had higher content of cadmium than those on the normal calcium diet.