Native and induced rat kidney metallothioneins and their relation to cadmium toxicity.

The concentrations of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus in the kidneys were determined for control female rats of five different ages (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks old). The concentration of copper increased with age and it was attributed to three metallothionein peaks on a SW 3000 column. Parenteral administration of Cd-thionein caused swelling of kidneys to different degrees, depending on the age of the rats; the youngest rats were affected most. The concentrations of cadmium and the six metals in the kidneys at 12 hr and 7 days after injection were determined and compared with controls. The distribution among protein fractions of cadmium, zinc, and copper, which are related to metallothionein, were examined by gel permeation chromatography. The elution profiles of the three metals changed not only with the ages of the rats but also with time after injection. The changes were correlated with the copper content in the metallothioneins and with swelling of the kidneys. The changes also correlated with native metallothionein levels.