Accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium and its effect on essential metals in rat spleen and pancreas

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Abstract
Cd was injected s.c. into female Wistar rats 3.0 mg Cd/kg body wt, 4 times/wk for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 wk. Concentrations of Cd in the spleen and pancreas were determined, together with essential metals, by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Cd in both tissues increased even after maximum concentration was attained in the liver. Contents of Zn, Ca and Mg in the spleen increased with splenomegaly, while content of Fe decreased. Concentrations of Ca, Mg and Fe decreased in the pancreas, while concentration of Zn showed a transitory increase. Cd in the spleen and pancreas supernatants was mostly bound to metallothionein, and metallothionein in the pancreas was highly susceptible to oxidation reaction. The spleen and pancreas were histologically less affected by Cd loading compared to the liver and kidney, and the pancreas showed only slight alterations after injections for 5 and 6 wk.

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