Accumulation of newly synthesized serum proteins by cadmium in cultured rat liver parenchymal cells.

Effects of cadmium on secretion of the two major serum proteins, albumin and transferrin were studied in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells. Exposure to 7 microM cadmium for 8 hr did not inhibit synthesis of both albumin and transferrin whereas secretions of the two proteins were effectively depressed. In the cells exposed to cadmium serum type albumin and proalbumin were accumulated. Cadmium may affect intracellular processing of secretory proteins and also retard the discharge of these proteins resulting in inhibition of protein secretion from the liver parenchymal cells.