Decrease in bone strength of cadmium-treated young and old rats.

A decrease in mechanical strength of bones was observed both in young and old rats for long periods of administration of cadmium. Young (3-week-old) female rats were given 0 (control), 5 and 10 ppm cadmium in drinking water, respectively, for 20 weeks. Old (18-month-old) female rats were given 0 (control) and 40 ppm cadmium in drinking water, respectively, for 7 months. The compression strengths of bones of young rats which were given 10 ppm cadmium, and those of old rats which were given 40 ppm cadmium, significantly decreased at the distal end portion of femur. Cadmium contents in bones in the 10 ppm and 40 ppm groups were about 110 and 210 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The present result confirmed that cadmium has a lesional effect on the mechanical strength of bone at the concentration of 100-200 ng/g in dry weight of bone, for both young and old rats.