title: Cadmium-metallothionein nephrotoxicity is increased in genetically diabetic as compared with normal Chinese hamsters.
abstract: To investigate the extra susceptibility of diabetics to some nephrotoxic agents, adult normal and diabetic Chinese hamsters (6-7 animals in each group) were injected subcutaneously with different doses of cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) equivalent to 0.0, 0.1 or 0.25 mg Cd/kg body weight and the first 24 hr urinary outputs were collected. Several days prior to exposure to the Cd-MT the diabetic hamsters were hyperglycaemic, and plasma insulin levels and body weights were elevated in some of the diabetics. The higher dose of Cd-MT caused significant spillage of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) activity and protein into the urine of both normal and diabetic animals. The higher dose of Cd-MT was more toxic to the diabetic kidneys because U-NAG levels were higher in the diabetics (2.5-fold higher than normal). U-Cd levels were proportional to the injected Cd-MT dose. U-Zn levels were not consistently affected by the injected Cd-MT although it had contained small amounts of Zn. Therefore, genetic diabetes in the Chinese hamster appears to increase susceptibility to acute cadmium-MT nephrotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying this need to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Frankel
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D011507:Proteinuria
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase