Abstract
The strain difference in the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) was examined in male rats. All rats of the Wistar-Imamichi (Wistar-IM) strain survived for 7 days after treatment with Cd at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg body weight, whereas 80% of the Wistar strain and 100% of the Sprague-Dawley and Fischer strains died. These results indicate that the Wistar-IM strain has strong resistance to Cd. Furthermore, the metallothionein (MT) contents of the liver, kidney and testis of Wistar-IM rats were compared with those of Fischer rats. The strain difference in the toxicity of Cd in rats did not appear to result from a difference in MT content, although further study is necessary to elucidate the role of MT.
