Effects of cadmium and zinc on calcium uptake in human red blood cells.

Cadmium and zinc increased the accumulation of calcium in human red blood cells by increasing passive influx without enhancing the permeability to other ions. The effect of cadmium and zinc appeared specific to these metals, because barium, magnesium, cobalt, strontium, manganese, and nickel had no effect. Changes in calcium uptake by extracellular sodium, potassium, and pH were not altered by zinc and cadmium. Inhibition of calcium uptake by quinine, oligomycin, and iodoacetate was not affected by cadmium or zinc. These results suggest that cadmium and zinc increase calcium movement through normal influx pathways. Cadmium and zinc acted synergistically apparently by different mechanisms. Zinc and cadmium differentially affected calcium uptake in different extracellular calcium concentrations. The cadmium effect was increased by low concentrations of 2-mercaptoethanol and above pH 8.0, while the zinc effect was less sensitive to these factors. These findings suggest that the cadmium effect involves a disulfide bond between cysteinyl residues and the zinc effect involves a different site.