Effect of oral cadmium administration to female rats before and/or during pregnancy on the metallothionein level in the fetal liver.

Female Wistar rats received cadmium (Cd) in drinking water at a concentration of 100 ppm before and during pregnancy, prior to gestation only, and during gestation only. For the quantitative determination of metallothionein, the 203Hg-saturation method was used. Each of the 3 exposure treatments led to a decrease of the fatal metallothionein level, which may be due to disturbance in hepatic zinc (Zn) metabolism.

Cadmium-induced changes in the histoenzymatic activity in liver, kidney and duodenum of pregnant rats.

Cadmium was administered in drinking water at a concentration of 50 ppm to female Wistar rats for 5 months before mating, and then continued during gestation. The histochemical evaluation revealed a relative decrease in succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and Mg+2-stimulated ATPase activities in duodenum, liver and kidney in the exposed rats. It is suggested that the resulting decrease in metabolic efficiency in maternal organs would be expected to exert an indirect, inhibitive effect on maternal-fetal transfer of nutrients, as reflected by fetal growth retardation.

[Effect of cadmium on serum level of total protein and glycoprotein carbohydrate components in rats]. / Wplyw kadmu na poziom bialka calkowitego oraz weglowodanowych skladników glikoproteidów surowicy szczurów.

In experimental cadmium intoxication 100 rats were intraperitoneally injected with single doses of 0; 5 1,0, 2,0 5,0 mg Cd++/kg body weight as well as with 14 doses of 0,25 mg Cd++/kg. In the serum of animals the level of total protein and of glycoprotein carbohydrate components was determined. After doses in the range of cadmium concentration from 0,5 to 2,0 mg Cd++/kg body weight, a statistically and significant increase of the serum level of the protein-bound hexose hexoamine and sialic acids was stated. On the other hand the dose of 5,0 mg Cd++/kg caused only the increase of hexose in comparison with values of these constituents recorded in the control group. In animals receiving multiple doses of cadmium and also in those after a single administration of 1,0 mg Cd++/kg, a significant increase of the total protein level was started. The last group revealed the highest concentrations of protein and glycoprotein carbohydrate constituents on the third day after injection of cadmium while after 14 days, amouunts of these compounds approximated the levels estimated in the control group. A univocal evaluation of the obtained results is difficult, however in the mechanism of the quantitative alterations within the glycoprotein components of rats serum, the possibility of cadmium--induced biosynthesis of these compounds should be taken into consideration.

[Pulmonary ventilation and lead absorption in workers of non-ferrous metallurgical plants]. / Wielkosc wentylacji pluc a wchlanianie olowiu u hutników metali niezelaznych.

The biological response to lead, taking into account pulmonary ventilation values, has been checked in nonferrous metal plant workers. Except for lead rolling-mill workers, increased blood lead, decreased delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity in erythrocytes, and increased urinary excretion of lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin were found in the metallurgists. The intensity of the biological response to lead was dependent on pulmonary ventilation. A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between these indices. With extensive correlation studies, a lead dose was calculated that is probably absorbed in the respiratory tract during a6-hr shift. This dose ranges between 352 -- 1056 mu g in lead refiners exposed to identical airborne lead concentration (0.163 mg/Pb/m3), the degree of physical effort being different (pulmonary ventilation from 11.8 -- 35.8 1/min). The authors indicate a need for including -- to a greater extent than so far -- pulmonary ventilation measurements in lead exposure evaluation.

Effect of oral cadmium administration to female rats during pregnancy on zinc, copper, and iron content in placenta, foetal liver, kidney, intestine, and brain.

Cadmium chloride was administered in drinking water at a concentration of 50 ppm cadmium to female rats for 20 days of gestation. The foetuses were then removed from the uteri of the dams. Gestational exposure to oral cadmium resulted in decreased zinc, copper, iron, metallothionein, and thionein-bound zinc content in foetal liver as well as in reduced copper content in placenta and foetal intestine, brain and kidney. Subcellular fractionation of the foetal liver revealed decreased nuclear and cytoplasmic zinc content as well as decreased microsomal iron content. Pregnant rats exposed to oral cadmium revealed decreased serum zinc and iron concentration as well as reduced ceruloplasmin activity. The decreased zinc, copper, and iron content in foetal organs is suggested to be causally connected with the diminished availability of these metals in the maternal circulation.