Age dependent distribution and retention of 109cadmium in the selected organs of rat

A single intraperitoneal injection of 10 μCi/kg of carrier free 109CdCl2 was administered to 1-day, 21-day and 180-day old rats to study the distribution of Cd in selected organs at 4 hrs and 14 days post injection. 109Cd uptake was detected in all the body tissues. The chief site of storage was the liver, where approximately 50% of the injected dose accumulated in all the age groups of animals. The percent of the 109Cd dose accumulated in most of the organs at 4 hrs either increased or did not change significantly by 14 days. The results also demonstrated a faster uptake of 109Cd by the liver, muscle and pancreas compared to a slower accumulation by other organs. Furthermore, the radio-labelled metal level in various organs particularly in brain, lungs and heart was significantly greater in the younger animals. This suggests that young animals may be more susceptible to the neurotoxic, pulmotoxic and cardiotoxic effects of Cd than older animals. An inefficient excretory system and underdeveloped blood-organ barrier may be responsible for the higher tissue levels of 109 Cd observed in the growing animals. (author)