Acta pharmacol. et toxicol. 1977, 41, 515-524.

From the Institute of Vitamin Research, Directorate of Fisheries, P. 0. Box 187, 5001 Bergen, Norway

Interactions of Cadmium with Copper, Zinc and Iron in different Organs and Tissues of the Rat BY

KAre Julshamn, Finn Utne and Olaf R. Braekkan (Received April 28, 1977; Accepted June 8, 1977)

Absrracf: The effect of cadmium on tissue concentrations of iron, zinc and copper was studied in male rats. Two littermate groups were fed a stock diet with or without a supplement of 100 pg cadmium per g. Every three weeks ten animals from each group were sampled and the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, spleen, testes, muscle, fur, faeces and urine were individually analyzed. Except for the fur, all the other organs showed highly significantly increased levels of cadmium when compared with the control group. The iron levels were significantly depressed in all organs. As the content in the faeces remained unchanged and the urinary excretion showed an increase, it could be concluded that the cadmium supplementation resulted in a depletion of the body stores of iron. The zinc levels showed a significant increase in the liver and testes and a correspondingly significant decrease in the spleen. The levels of copper generally showed n o significant changes. Key-words: Cadmium-interactions

-

copper

- zinc - iron - rat.

Preliminary studies in rainbow trout (Sulmo gairdneri) showed that cadmium is little absorbed and does not give the interactions reported from studies on birds and mammals. Before proceeding with experiments in fish, it was found of interest to check some of the interactions caused by cadmium in rats under experimental conditions so as to allow statistical evaluation. In the literature there are studies on the accumulation and interactions when cadmium is fed to chicks (HILLet al. 1963), mice and rats (Bum & MATRONE 1966; BANISet ul. 1969), calves (POWELL et ul. 1964), hens and goats ( A m et ul. 1970) and ewes and lambs (MILLS& DALGARNO 1972). The interactions reported in these studies were mainly related to iron, copper and zinc, and these elements were chosen for the present study.

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Table 1. Percentage composition of the experimental diet'. Ground wheat Wheat germ Dried skimmed milk Dried brewers yeast Arachis oil Mineral mixture' Grass meal DL-Methimine

41.85 16.15 28.50 5.75

4.75 1.90 1.oo 0.10

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1

2

Vitamins were added to the diet to give the following contents in mg per kg: Thiamine 6, riboflavin 2, niacin 8, Ca-pantothenate 24, pyridoxine 16, cyanocobalamin 0.8, a-tocopherol 250 (250 1. U.), vitamin A 1.8 (5150I. UJ. The mineral mixture was a commercial Standard Mineral Mixture, which supplied the following contents in mg per kg final diet: Ca 4550,P 1150,Mg 20,Na 15, Fe 30, Mn 38, Zn 33, Cu 9.5, Co 0.75 and I 1.5. (Analysis of the diet showed the following total levels: Cd 0.01,Cu 9.5,Zn 52, Fe 150).

Interactions of cadmium with copper, zinc and iron in different organs and tissues of the rat.

Acta pharmacol. et toxicol. 1977, 41, 515-524. From the Institute of Vitamin Research, Directorate of Fisheries, P. 0. Box 187, 5001 Bergen, Norway...
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