Studies on urinary proteoglycan excretion in occupational cadmium exposure.
Six foundrymen occupationally exposed to cadmium fumes excreted in random urine samples 4.8 +/- 2.9 micrograms cadmium/g creatinine (+/- S.D.). Six controls excreted 0.15 +/- 0.09 microgram/g creatinine (+/- S.D.). The excretion of glycosaminoglycans by exposed men (2.3 +/- 1.1 mg/mmol creatinine, +/- S.D.) did not differ from that of controls (2.3 +/- 1.6 mg/mmol, +/- S.D.). However, electrophoretic analysis of the isolated urinary proteoglycan fraction revealed a dose-dependent progressive increase in the intensity of two bands with a molecular weight between 45,000 and 50,000. In control urines and in samples with urinary cadmium less than 3 micrograms/g creatinine, only one major band with a molecular weight of 100,000 was detected. The changes may serve as early indicators of the harmful effects of cadmium on the proteoglycan-containing barriers of the nephron.
Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Savolainen
D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000652:urine*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000652:urine*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000652:urine*
D011509:Proteoglycans