AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 238, Issue 1 53-E61, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Cadmium and nickel influence on blood pressure, plasma renin, and tissue mineral concentrations
D. J. Eakin, L. A. Schroeder, P. D. Whanger and P. H. Weswig
Weanling rats were fed a casein-based diet containing either 150 ppm
cadmium, 500 ppm nickel, or the combination of these metals for 16 wk.
Blood pressure of rats fed the diet with cadmium decreased after 8 wk, but
this effect was counteracted by dietary nickel. Cadmium caused a depletion
of iron and resulted in an accumulation of zinc in liver and kidney of
rats. Nickel partially counteracted the iron loss due to cadmium. In a
second experiment, the inclusion of 10 or 20 ppm cadmium in drinking water
for 24 mo did not result in elevated blood pressure in normal or
genetically hypertensive rats. Cadmium had no effect on the plasma renin
levels in either experiment. Low intake of cadmium (10 or 20 ppm) in
drinking water resulted in elevated cadmium content in hair. Thus, our data
do not indicate that high levels of cadmium contribute to hypertension.
