Cadmium directly acts on endothelin receptor and inhibits endothelin binding activity.

The binding of endothelin (ET) to human placenta ET receptor was strongly inhibited by cadmium ions (Cd2+) (IC50 = 2 x 10(-5) M). Experiments with affinity cross-linking showed that the major 40 kDa receptor was inhibited to form a [125I]ET-1/receptor complex. The mode of inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to ET-1. The inhibitory effect of Cd2+ on solubilized ET receptor was partially reversed by the chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), whereas the effect was irreversible for the membrane-associated receptor. The rat aorta contractions by ET were prevented by pretreatment or addition of Cd2+.