Abstract
The significance of elevated excretion of metallothionein in urine of women living in cadmium-polluted and non-polluted areas of Japan was studied with respect to renal dysfunction. The relationships between the concentrations of metallothionein in urine and those of other non-specific urinary indices of renal dysfunction, i.e., total protein, glucose, β2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, α-amino nitrogen and proline were examined. In addition, the relationships between urinary metallothionein and urinary cadmium and copper were also evaluated. It was found that the logarithm of the metallothionein concentration in urine was significantly correlated with the logarithm of the concentrations of each of the above parameters. When subjects with signs of renal dysfunction, including “itai-itai” disease patients and patients suspected of the disease, were compared with subjects with normal renal functions, as a group, the former excreted significantly higher concentrations of metallothionein in their urine than the latter. The results suggest that the elevated excretion of metallothionein is not only an index of excessive cadmium exposure, but also of renal dysfunction caused by chronic exposure to this metal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonner FW, King LJ, Parke DV (1979) The tissue disposition and urinary excretion of cadmium, zinc, copper and iron, following repeated parenteral administration of cadmium to rats. Chem Biol Interact 27: 343–351
Chang CC, Lauwerys R, Bernard A, Roels H, Buchet JP, Garvey JS (1980a) Metallothionein in cadmium-exposed workers. Environ Res 23: 422–428
Chang CC, Vander Mallie RJ, Garvey JS (1980b) A radioimmunoassay for human metallothionein. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 55: 94–102
Friberg L, Piscator M, Nordberg GF, Kjellstrom T (1974) Cadmium in the Environment, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Cleveland, OH, USA
Garvey JS, Chang CC (1981) Detection of circulating metallothionein in rats injected with zinc or cadmium. Science 214: 805–806
Heath DF (1967) Normal or Log-normal: Appropriate distributions. Nature 213: 1159–1160
Kägi JHR, Nordberg M (eds) (1979) Metallothionein. Experientia Supplementum 34. Birkhäuser Verlage, Basel
Lee YH, Tohyama C, Shaikh ZA (1982) Effect of subacute exposure to cadmium, mercury, lead, copper and zinc on the plasma and urinary metallothionein levels in rats. Toxicologist 2: 52
Nogawa K, Kobayashi E, Honda R (1979) A study of the relationship between cadmium concentrations in urine and renal effects of cadmium. Environ Health Perspect 28: 161–168
Nogawa K, Kobayashi E, Honda R, Ishizaki A, Kawano S, Matsuda H (1980) Renal dysfunctions of inhabitants in a cadmium-polluted area. Environ Res 23: 13–23
Nomiyama K, Nomiyama H, Akahori F, Masaoka T (1981) Further studies on effects of dietary cadmium on rhesus monkeys. (9). Cadmium, zinc and copper in urine. In: Recent Studies on Health Effects of Cadmium in Japan. Environmental Agency, Office of Health Studies, Tokyo, p 139
Ryan TA Jr, Joiner BL, Ryan BF (1976) Minitab Student Handbook. Duxbury, North Scituate, MA, USA
Shaikh ZA, Tohyama C (1981) Letter to the editor. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 58: 338–339
Suzuki Y (1980) Anion exchange chromatographie properties of urinary metallothionein and its role in cadmium, copper and zinc excretion in cadmium poisoned rats. Industr Health 18: 129–137
Tohyama C, Shaikh ZA (1981) Metallothionein in plasma and urine of cadmium-exposed rats determined by a single-antibody radioimmunoassay. Fundam Appl Toxicol 1: 1–7
Tohyama C, Shaikh ZA, Nogawa K, Kobayashi E, Honda R (1981a) Elevated urinary excretion of metallothionein due to environmental cadmium exposure. Toxicology 20: 289–297
Tohyama C, Shaikh ZA, Ellis KJ, Cohn SH (1981b) Metallothionein excretion in urine upon cadmium-exposure: its relationship with liver and kidney cadmium. Toxicology 22: 181–191
Tohyama C, Shaikh ZA, Ellis KJ, Cohn SH (1982) Urinary metallothionein as a biological indicator of occupational cadmium exposure. In: Wilson D, Volpe RA (eds) Cadmium 81. Cadmium Association, London/Cadmium Council, New York/International Lead Zinc Research Organization, New York, p 180
Tsuchiya K (ed) (1978) Cadmium Studies in Japan. A review. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam
Vander Mallie RJ, Garvey JS (1979) Radioimmunoassay of metallthionein. J Biol Chem 254: 8416–8421
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tohyama, C., Shaikh, Z.A., Nogawa, K. et al. Urinary metallothionein as a new index of renal dysfunction in “itai-itai” disease patients and other Japanese women environmentally exposed to cadmium. Arch Toxicol 50, 159–166 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373398
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373398