Aspects of the biochemical toxicology of cadmium

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1975 · Fed. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7361392

Singhal, R L; Merali, Z; Hrdina, P D

Cadmium, in addition to producing a variety of toxic manifestations, is known to accumulate in certain ''target'' organs which include liver and kidney where histological and functional damage becomes apparent. The daily intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride for 21 or 45 days stimulated the activities of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase, elevated blood glucose and urea, and lowered hepatic glycogen in rats. Whereas chronic Cd treatment failed to alter adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and the activity of basal and fluoride-stimulated forms of hepatic adenylate cyclase (AC) were markedly increased. However, the cAMP binding to hepatic protein kinase was decreased as was the kinase activity ratio. An acute dose of Cd decreased hepatic glycogen content and increased blood glucose, serum urea, and hepatic cAMP. Chronic exposure to Cd induced adrenal hypertrophy and augmented adrenal norepinephrine and epinephrine as well as the activity of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. In most cases, the observed metabolic alterations persisted up to 28 days on cessation of Cd administration. Subacute Cd treatment suppressed pancreatic function as evidenced by lowered serum immunoreactive insulin in presence of hyperglycemia, as well as by partial inhibition of phentolamine-stimulated increases in serum IRI. Although chronic Cd treatment failed to alter the concentration of brain stem norepinephrine and cerebrocortical acetylcholine esterase activity, serotonin levels of brain stem were depressed and the concentration of striatal dopamine and cerebrocortical acetylcholine were significantly elevated when compared with the values seen in control nonexposed animals.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Ottawa
• OSTI ID: 7361392
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 35:1; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACETYLCHOLINE
ALDEHYDES
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMP
ANIMALS
AZOLES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY BURDEN
BRAIN
CADMIUM
CADMIUM CHLORIDES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM HALIDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHOLINESTERASE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
ESTERS
GLANDS
GLUCOSE
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HEXOSES
HYDROLASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOLES
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
PHOSPHOTRANSFERASES
PROSTAGLANDINS
PYRROLES
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RATS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
SEROTONIN
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TOXICITY
TRANSFERASES
TRYPTAMINES
VERTEBRATES