Trace metal accumulation by the shrew Sorex araneus. II. Tissue distribution in kidney and liver.

The distributions of trace metals in tissues of shrews in a series of feeding trials are described. The relationship between body cadmium burden and organ weight was directly related to differences in body weight. Organ weight expressed as a percentage of body weight was constant in the kidney, but was correlated with cadmium burden for the liver. Liver and kidney accounted for up to 80% of total body cadmium. The proportion of the body cadmium burden found in the kidney ranged from 8 to 17%. Copper and zinc concentrations in the kidney increased in response to cadmium accumulation. Hepatic zinc concentrations increased with cadmium accumulation. Exposure to a copper-contaminated diet resulted in increased liver copper levels. High liver concentrations were correlated with high kidney concentrations. At the lowest levels of exposure to metals liver and kidney concentrations were similar, but as exposure increased so did liver concentrations and much more so than in the kidney.