Insulin expression in rats exposed to cadmium.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of cadmium exposure on insulin expression in rats.


METHODS
Eighteen adult SD rats were administered cadmium subcutaneously (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg x bw). The effects on endocrine of pancreas were assessed. The levels of cadmium and zinc in pancreas, blood and urine glucose, serum insulin and urine NAG (N-acyetyl-beta-glucosaminidase) were determined. The gene expressions of metallothionein (MT) and insulin were also measured, and the oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were carried out.


RESULTS
The contents of cadmium in pancreas in cadmium-treated rats were higher than that in the control group, which was associated with slight increase of zinc in pancreas. Cadmium-exposed rats (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg x bw) demonstrated a marked glucose intolerance. But the levels of serum insulin did not change significantly after cadmium administration, and the UNAG had no change in Cd-treated group. The gene expression of insulin decreased in 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg x bw cadmium-exposed groups, compared with the control group. The expression of MT-I was higher in the groups exposed to 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg x bw cadmium while the expression of MT-II was higher in the group exposed to 2.0 mg/kg x bw cadmium.


CONCLUSIONS
Cadmium may be accumulated in the pancreas, resulting in the change of the expression of insulin, MT-I and MT-II genes. Cadmium can influence the biosynthesis of insulin, but does not induce the release of insulin. The dysfunction of pancreas occurs earlier than that of kidney after administration of cadmium.
Lei
Li-Jian
LJ
Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Jin
Tai-Yi
TY
Zhou
Yuan-Fen
YF
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000652:urine; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D001786:Blood Glucose; D017931:DNA Primers; D007328:Insulin; D002104:Cadmium