Mobilization of hepatic cadmium in pregnant rats

Mobilization of hepatic cadmium (Cd) in pregnant rats was investigated. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were injected subcutaneously, daily with 1.0 mg Cd/kg body weight as CdCl2 for 8 days. A group of these rats was made pregnant. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), Cd, and metallothionein (MT) concentrations in the liver, kidney, and plasma of the control and Cd-injected, pregnant and nonpregnant rats, were compared. The hepatic Cd concentration of the Cd-injected rats decreased by 40% during pregnancy and became significantly lower than that of the nonpregnant Cd-injected rats. On the other hand, there was a concomitant increase (60%) of Cd concentrations in the kidney of the Cd-injected pregnant rats. MT in the Cd-injected rats also showed a similar pattern of decrease in hepatic concentrations and increase in renal concentrations during pregnancy. Both Cd and MT contents in the placenta of the Cd-injected rats were higher than those of the control and there was a significant increase over the gestational period. Plasma Cd and MT concentrations of the Cd-injected pregnant rats were higher than those of Cd-injected nonpregnant rats. These results suggest that pregnancy can mobilize the hepatic Cd which can be transferred to the kidney and placenta through the blood plasma. Moreover, the blood urea nitrogen levels of the pregnant Cd-injected rats were increased on Gestation Day 21 and 7 days after delivery, indicating signs of Cd nephropathy. The hepatic Cd, Cu, Zn, and MT concentrations of the newborn rats, however, were unaltered by Cd injections. Therefore, it is possible that pregnancy may induce a high risk of Cd nephrotoxicity in women with chronic Cd exposure.