title: Essential metal contents and metallothionein-like protein in testes of mice after cadmium administration.
abstract: To study the testicular injury by Cd from the viewpoint of essential element levels, male mice were injected with Cd subcutaneously at a dose of 30 mumol/kg body weight singly and the concentrations of 8 elements (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Cd) in the testis were measured for 6 weeks. The most pronounced alteration was an increase of Ca content with time after the injection; the experimental group had 270 times more Ca than the control despite a decrease of the testis weight to one-third of the control at 4 weeks. K content decreased markedly and Fe remained at an elevated level throughout the experimental period. Decreased Mg, P, and Zn levels started to be restored after 2 weeks. Metallothionein (MT)-like Zn-binding proteins were studied in the cytosol fraction with a high performance liquid chromatograph-atomic absorption spectrophotometer. MT-like proteins were observed at a higher concentration in the control than in the Cd-injected group. No indications of new induction of MTs or MT-like proteins could be detected.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein