EFFECT OF CADMIUM, MERCURY, AND BISMUTH ON THE COPPER CONTENT IN RAT-TISSUES

In this study the effect of multiple subcutaneous administration of cadmium, mercury, and bismuth on the copper content in rat organs was investigated. In the case of all three metals a statistically significant increase in the whole-body copper retention was observed. In a majority of organs, only slight changes in the copper concentrations took place; on the other hand, there was a considerable elevation of the content of this metal in the kidneys, twofold after bismuth treatment and more than sixfold after treatment with cadmium or mercury. The increase in the copper concentration in the kidneys was paralleled by an augmentation in the level of kidney metallothionein-like proteins and by an increase in the copper content of the protein fraction of molecular weight 10,000, isolated from kidneys of rats exposed to cadmium, bismuth, or mercury. The metallothionein-like proteins play a key role in the binding of these three metals in the rat kidneys. © 1979.