Distribution of cadmium in developing teeth and bone of young rats.

109-Cadmium was injected intraperitoneally into 10-d-old rats. The rats were terminated at 1, 4, 24 and 96 h postinjection. Distribution of the tracer was studied by autoradiographic techniques, with particular attention directed to the dental tissues. Considerable accumulation of 109-cadmium occurred in the cells of the enamel and dentin was observed. The injected cadmium was also accumulated in the growing bone. Microautoradiography seemed to indicate that the isotope was preferentially localized in the osteoblasts.