Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on organ distribution and excretion of cadmium.

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) was evaluated for its efficacy in promoting organ mobilization and excretion of metallothionein-bound cadmium (Cd) using mice which received a single injection of CdCl2 X 2.5 H2O, 0.03 mg per mouse, along with 109CdCl2 three to six weeks earlier. After seven or 13 i.p. injections of DDTC, 500 mg per kg, over a two or four week interval, DDTC was highly effective in mobilizing Cd from kidney (Ki) and spleen (Sp), but less effective in removing it from liver (Li). Treatment with DDTC moderately enhanced Cd levels in lung (Lu), heart (He) and testes (Te), and increased brain (Br) levels to over 500 percent of control values. Relative accumulation of Cd in organs of control mice were in the order Li greater than Ki greater than Sp greater than Lu greater than He greater than Te greater than Br. The extreme values were Li = 57 percent and Br = 0.07 percent of the Cd administered. Even though a major portion of Cd mobilized was from the kidneys, excretion was apparently exclusively by the fecal route.