The vascular endothelium as a target tissue in acute cadmium toxicity.

Sensitivity of tissues to the acute toxicity of cadmium is reviewed. It is concluded that the initial effect of acute cadmium administration is on the integrity and permeability of the vascular endothelium; other necrotic changes occur secondarily to this effect. In a sensitive tissue, not all of the endothelial cells are susceptible to cadmium. Furthermore, after necrosis of the sensitive cells, the resistant cells proliferate and result in regeneration of the vasculature and subsequent acquired resistance to the metal. It is found that sex hormones are probably important in determining susceptibility and response of tissues to cadmium. The role of metallothionein in these phenomena remains to be elucidated.