Renal Lesions in the Rabbit After Long-Term Exposure to Cadmium

Abstract

Renal lesions were produced in rabbits by subcutaneous injections of cadmium chloride in amounts of 0.25 mg/kg of body weight five days a week. Exposure for 11 and 17 weeks resulted in mild alterations in proximal tubular epithelial cells. Exposure for 23 and 29 weeks gave more profound tubular changes and sometimes mild glomerular alterations. Large deposits of metal were seen, especially in the proximal segments of the tubular epithelial cells, a small part of these were iron deposits. Degenerative changes were slight and signs of tubular epithelial regeneration were evident in rabbits examined 30 weeks after a 24-week exposure period. The metal deposits were still of the same magnitude as in rabbits examined after 23 and 29 weeks. The results from histologic examinations correlate with the results from investigations of kidney function in these rabbits.