Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  1998 Aug;2(4):503-510.

Renal handling of sodium and potassium in cadmium exposed rats

• Kim YK
• Park YS

Abstract

Effects of cadmium exposure on renal Na+ and K+ transports were studied in rats. During the course of cadmium treatment (2 mg Cd/kg/day, s.c. injections for 3 weeks) renal tubular transports of Na+ and K+ were evaluated by lithium clearance technique. During the early phase (first week) of cadmium treatment, urinary Na+ excretion decreased drastically and this was due to an increased Na+ reabsorption both in the proximal and distal nephrons. During the late phase (third week) of cadmium treatment, filtered Na+ load was decreased by reduction in GFR, but the renal Na+ excretion returned to the control level due to impaired Na+ transport in the proximal tubule. Urinary excretion of K+ did not change during the early phase, but it rose markedly during the late phase of cadmium treatment. These results indicate that a light cadmium intoxication induces a Na+ retention, and a heavy intoxication results in a K+ loss. Possible mechanisms for these changes are discussed.

Keyword

Cadmium; Renal function; Na+ excretion; K+ excretion; Lithium clearance

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cadmium*
Lithium
Nephrons
Potassium*
Rats*
Sodium*
Cadmium
Lithium
Potassium
Sodium