Cadmium chronic administration to lactating ewes: reproductive performance, cadmium tissue accumulation and placental transfer.

Abstract

20 lactating ewes were allotted to two groups: 10 subjects received orally 100 mg/day of CdCl2 for 108 consecutive days, and the remaining 10 acted as control. Reproductive performance in ewes and cadmium tissue accumulation, both in ewes and their lambs, were investigated. The results showed that in ewes: 1) the regular cadmium intestinal intake negatively influences all reproductive parameters; 2) cadmium is particularly accumulated in kidney and liver, but also in mammary gland, although at a distinctly lower level; 3) chronic administration does not increase cadmium placental transfer in lactating pregnant subjects.