Metabolism in the rat of cadmium biocomplexes from edible mussels exposed to 109CdCl2

The metabolism in the rat of 109Cd biocomplexes present in the tissues of the edible mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, previously exposed to 109CdCl2, was studied. The tissue distribution and binding of 109Cd were compared to those caused by an equal dose of 109Cd as CdCl2 or rat liver Cd-metallothionein. Administration of mussel 109Cd to rats resulted in an initial accumulation of 109Cd in the kidneys due to the presence of 109Cd-metallothionein, which constituted 25% of the 109Cd in the tissues of the mussels. Other 109Cd biocomplexes present in the mussel tissues were metabolized in the rat in a way similar to that of inorganic cadmium, i.e., initial accumulation in the liver. These findings indicate that the ingestion of seafood rich in metallothionein may give rise to a faster increase of renal cadmium levels than the consumption of a similar amount of inorganic cadmium