The Fate of Cd¹⁰⁹in the Mouse

Abstract

The body distribution of Cd in mice killed at various times, from 5 minutes to 16 days, after a single intravenous dose of 8 mu C Cd/sup 109/Cl/sub 2/, carrier free, was studied by autoradiography of sagittal whole-body sections. The relative order of concentrations found in the organs of the body was estimated by densitometry. The distribution is described in detail. The results indicated excretion of Cd by gastric and colonic mucosa and in the bile. Very little elimination of Cd, however, was found to occur during the 16 days of observation. Cd concentration was seen to decrease only in the mucosa of the intestinal tract, where it fell rapidly after 24 hr. Considerable amounts of Cd were demonstrated for the first time in the interstitial tissue of the testes and in the posterior and anterior lobe of the hypophysis. A distinctive pattern of localiazation in the renal cortex was also found, indicating selective accumulation in special structures. (P.C.H.)