Effect of supplemental magnesium on the kidney levels of cadmium, zinc, and copper of mice exposed to toxic levels of cadmium.

In this report, we present the results of our investigations on the effect of Mg pretreatment on Cd and bioelements (Cu and Zn) contents in kidney of mice exposed to acute and subacute Cd intoxication. Acute intoxication was performed on male Swiss mice given a single oral dose of 20 mg Cd/kg body weight and mice given the same dose of Cd but pretreated with 40 mg Mg/kg body weight. For subacute intoxication one group of mice was given 10 mg Cd/kg body weight every day, for 2 wk, and the other one received the same dose of Cd after oral Mg intake of 20 mg/kg body weight. Cd, Cu, and Zn content was determined in kidney by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In acute Cd intoxication, Mg pretreatment resulted in significant decrease of Cd in kidney after 4 and 6 h, compared with animals given only Cd. Under the condition of subacute Cd intoxication, Mg supplementation reduced Cd kidney content after 2 wk for about 30%, compared with animals treated with Cd only. The effect of Mg on Cu and Zn kidney content was also beneficial.