Differences in uptake of cadmium in selected organs of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats

The uptake of ¹⁰⁹Cd in normal and alloxan-diabetic tissues (blood, liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen) was studied. Cadmium concentration in normal tissues, except pancreas, reached a steady state after 8 hr, whereas in alloxan-diabetic tissues, the concentration was significantly dependent on the time interval. Cadmium concentration was higher in alloxan-diabetic blood than in the blood of nondiabetic controls. Spleen uptake was higher in alloxan-diabetic tissues during the first 24 hr but not significantly different after 240 hr. Cadmium concentration was higher in alloxan-diabetic livers during the first 24 hr but was lower after 240 hr. Cadmium accumulation in kidneys was the reverse of that in liver. Pancreas uptake was lower in alloxan-diabetic tissues during the first 24 hr but not statistically different after 240 hr. It is postulated that the differences in the distribution of cadmium in control versus alloxan-diabetic rats are due mainly to diabetes, which develops due to insulin deficiency and which introduces changes in the amount of biomolecules that bind cadmium as well as in the bond strength of cadmium to the different binding sites.