title: [The toxic effects of cadmium on pancreas.].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to explore the toxic effects of cadmium on functions of endocrine and exocrine of pancreas.
  
  
  METHODS
  96 SD rats were administered with cadmium at different doses (0, 50, 100, 200 mg/L) by drinking water for 30 days, 60 days and 90 days. The contents of cadmium and zinc in the blood and pancreas, also the glucose level in blood and urine, the levels of insulin and the activity of amylase were determined. The gene expression of metallothionein (MT), insulin and pancreatic amylase were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the contents of cadmium in the serum and pancreas were higher than that of the control groups (P < 0.05). The contents of zinc in serum were decreased in the groups of 100 and 200 mg/L cadmium at the 90-day. As well as increased zinc in pancreas. The gene expression of insulin was not different compared with those of the control group except the middle-dose group at the 60-day. And the expression of amylase were higher in the groups of 100 and 200 mg/L cadmium at the 60-day and the 90-day. The expression of MT-1 and -2 were higher in the pancreas after cadmium administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that cadmium could be accumulated in the pancreas and caused the change of the zinc levels. Then it resulted in the change of the expression of gene and protein, and influence of the functions of both endocrine and exocrine in pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Li-jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Tai-yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yuan-fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D000681:Amylases; D015032:Zinc