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Binding of cadmium and mercury by metallothionein in the kidneys and liver of rats following repeated administration

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Abstract

Rats were injected subcutaneously with either cadmium chloride (0.5 mg Cd/kg) or mercuric chloride (0.5 and 0.25 mg Hg/kg) every other day over a period of 6 to 7 weeks. Levels of metals and metallothionein were determined in liver and kidneys. Both cadmium and metallothionein accumulated in these organs during the period of exposure. Mercury and metallothionein accumulated only in the kidneys. Mercury did not accumulate in the liver, nor did it cause an increase of metallothionein in the liver. The molar ratio of 1.6 (metal to metallothionein) in liver was constant for cadmium. In the kidneys this ratio varied from 1 to 3 for both metals, depending on the level of the metal; This ratio was 0.1 for liver mercury.

Zusammenfassung

Ratten erhielten Kadmiumchlorid (0,5 mg Cd/kg) oder Quecksilberchlorid (0,5 und 0,25 mg Hg/kg) alle 2 Tage s.c., 6 bis 7 Wochen lang. Der Spiegel von Metallothionein wurde in Leber und Nieren bestimmt. Sowohl Cadmium wie Metallothionein kumulierten in diesen Organen während der gesamten Expositionszeit. Quecksilber und Metallothionein kumulierten ausschließlich in den Nieren, nicht in der Leber. Das molare Verhältnis Metall:Metallothionein in der Leber war für Cadmium konstant und betrug 1,6. In den Nieren änderte es sich von 1∶3 für beide Metalle, in Abhängigkeit vom Spiegel des Metalls. Für Quecksilber betrug dieses Verhältnis in der Leber 0,1.

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This work was partly supported by the Polish-American agreement No. 05-009-2 with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, PHS, USA.

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Piotrowski, J.K., Trojanowska, B. & Sapota, A. Binding of cadmium and mercury by metallothionein in the kidneys and liver of rats following repeated administration. Arch. Toxicol. 32, 351–360 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330118

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