title: Beta 2-microglobulin levels in serum and urine of cadmium exposed rabbits.
abstract: Male rabbits were exposed to cadmium during 16 weeks by subcutaneous injections of either 0.25 mg or 0.5 md Cd as cadmium chloride per kg body weight 3 times per week. beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and creatinine in serum, cadmium in blood, as well as total protein, creatinine, beta 2-m and cadmium in urine were determined before exposure and after 3 and 7 weeks of exposure. Measurements were also made at 19 weeks, 3 weeks after the last exposure. During exposure, there was a slight increase in the serum beta 2-m/creatinine ratio among rabbits with the highest exposure, while no effect of the cadmium burden could be observed once exposure had ceased. Urinary excretion of beta 2-m was related to urinary pH, which appeared to be the case also for excretion of total protein. In the high exposure group, a significant increase in urinary beta 2-m excretion, indicative of renal tubular dysfunction was seen after 7 weeks of exposure. This was, however, not related to serum beta 2-m levels. It was concluded that before renal damage has occurred even heavy cadmium exposure has very little influence on serum beta 2-m levels.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000032:analysis; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D011506:Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002104:Cadmium; D003404:Creatinine