The effects of a low level of dietary cadmium on blood pressure, '24Na, '42K, andwater retention in growing rats.

The effects of 5 pg Cd per millilter of drinking water on body weight gain, food intake, systolic blood pressure, '24Na, '42K; and water retention and freference for NaCl solution in male and female rats were studied. After 205 days, Cd had no significant effect on weight gain, food intake, water intake, or feed efficiency. The'24Na retention of the Cd-fed male and female rats was greater at 161 days than in the control animals and was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) in the Cd-treated females than in the control females at 294 days. In vivo retention of '42K was significantly greater in the Cd-treated males than in the control males at 189 days, butthe oppisite was true of the Cd-treated females in comparison with female control animals. There were no significant differences between treatments in '42K retention after 330 days. No significant differences were found between treatments in systolic blood pressure. Water retention was significantly greater in the Cd-treated males and females than in the control animals after 320 days. Preference for 0.20 M NaCl was significantly greater in the Cd-fed males than in the control males at 277 days.Possible mechanisms which might explain the sodium retention in thhe Cd-fed rat are discussed.