Abstract
Summary
Sprague-Dawley rats were given access to water containing control, 10, or 25 ppm Cd beginning on day 0 of gestation. On day 21 of gestation, fetal and maternal tissues were collected from dams which had been dosed 24 hr previously with 16 μCi of 45CaCl2. Maternal and fetal hematocrits decreased, indicating a possible interference with iron metabolism. No changes in total or radiocalcium found in fetal body were detected as a function of Cd treatment. Fetal bone stable and radiocalcium increased by as much as 33% at 25 ppm while fetal liver and kidney stable Ca decreased compared to controls.
It is evident that low Cd exposures lead to changes in fetal Ca metabolism rather than causing changes in the amount of Ca transported across the placenta.
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