Effects of cadmium on polyribosome sedimentation pattern in mouse liver.

Cadmium injected to mice provokes an acute disaggregation of hepatic polyribosomes. The effect appears within 15 min, it is maximal after 1 h and then gradually disappears. The reaggregation of polyribosomes takes place 6--12 h after injection. The disaggregation of polyribosomes is linear with log doses in a range of 7.25--20 mumol/kg CdCl2. Cycloheximide pretreatment prevents the disaggregation of polyribosomes in the livers of cadmium-treated mice.