Studies of cadmium uptake and metabolism by the kidney

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.845421· OSTI ID:5762382

Suzuki, K T

The investigation centered on a possible relationship between the toxicity of cadmium and changes in its chemical forms in tissues. Two models have been studied: one is the renal damage induced by a single injection of cadmium-containing metallothionein and the other is the renal damage induced by repeated injections of cadmium salt. Parenteral loading of cadmium-containing metallothionein caused acute and transitory necrotic damage of renal tubular lining cells. This was explained by the selection and rapid uptake of metallothionein at the proximal tubules and degradation of the protein, resulting in liberation of cadmium ions. Cadmium ions were injected repeatedly into rats, and the changes in the chemical forms of cadmium, zinc and copper in the liver and kidneys were correlated with the histological observations. The transitory necrotic damage of the proximal tubules caused during the repeated injections of cadmium was accompanied with a rapid decrease of the copper content in the kidney metallothionein. Further loading of cadmium ions induced increases in the amounts of cadmium not bound to metallothionein and its oxidation products as well as an increase of the Cd/Zn ratio in metallothionein. With these changes in the chemical forms of cadmium, persistent damage of the kidneys occurred. The transitory renal damage caused both by a single injection of cadmium-containing metallothionein and by repeated injections of cadmium salt can be explained by a limit of the native biosynthetic capacity of metallothionein in the kidney, while the persistent damage appears to be due to a limit of the induced capacity. 46 references, 7 figures.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Environmental Studies, Yatabe, Ibaraki, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5762382
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 54; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
CADMIUM
COPPER
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GLANDS
HISTOLOGY
INFORMATION
INJURIES
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
METALS
NECROSIS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PROTEINS
RATS
RODENTS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
SYNTHESIS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
ZINC