GENETIC INFLUENCE ON INDUCTION OF METALLOTHIONEIN AND MORTALITY FROM CADMIUM INTOXICATION

Male mice of C3H, BALB/c, and DBA/2 strains were injected subcutaneously with a single dose of 30 μmol of CdCl2/kg. Within 48 h after administration, the mortality of C3H, BALB/c, and DBA/2 was 7 9, 2 7, and 0 8, respectively. At 6 h after administration, severe damage was observed in livers of C3H, but no remarkable change was observed in livers of BALB/c or DBA/2. In C3H mice, rate of hepatic metallothionein synthesis was significantly lower than in BALB/c or DBA/2. From these results, it is clarified that the mortality from Cd-intoxication is determined by the amounts of hepatic metallothionein the induction of which depends on genetic predisposition. © 1979.