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Title: Cadmium-copper interaction: tissue accumulation and subcellular distribution of cadmium in mice after simultaneous administration of cadmium and copper

Conference · · Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States)
OSTI ID:6373505

In vivo cadmium with copper was investigated using mice exposed to various combinations of Cd and Cu concentrations in drinking water. Animals were sacrificed at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 wk and brain, liver, kidney and spleen digests analyzed for cadmium, copper, iron and zinc by flame or flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Tissue Zn, Fe and Cu levels were not altered by Cu or Cd additions to drinking water. Although a dose related increase in Cd was observed in kidney and liver throughout the experiment, a significant decrease was observed in Cd concentrations of these 2 tissues when 100 ppM Cu was added to 5 ppM Cd in drinking water but not when Cd levels were increased to 25 ppM or when Cu was reduced to 25 ppM. In order to determine the intracellular location of the increased Cd in these tissues, nuclei, microsomes, mitochondria and soluble proteins were isolated from liver and analyzed for Cd and Cu. Cadmium levels in the soluble protein fraction of liver of animals administered 5 ppM Cd were approx. 3-fold greater than that for the same Cd dose when Cu was added. The same was the case for the low molecular weight fraction (TCA supernatant) of liver. At the same time, Cu increased in both the total soluble protein and low mol wt protein fractions of Cd exposed animals when Cu was added. These results suggest an in vivo replacement of Cu for Cd in induced metallothionein-like Cu and Cd binding proteins. Copper at relatively low levels may play an important role in the prevention of accumulation of Cd in liver and kidney; however, this interaction appears to be dependent on a specific Cd:Cu ratio of metal intake.

Research Organization:
Utah State Univ., Logan
OSTI ID:
6373505
Report Number(s):
CONF-8106251-
Journal Information:
Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 15; Conference: 15. annual conference on trace substances in environmental health, Columbia, MO, USA, 1 Jun 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English