Mechanism of cadmium resistance in cultured Indian muntjac fibroblasts.

The mechanism by which Indian muntjac fibroblasts (M cells) became resistant to the toxic effects of cadmium was investigated. The resistant lines, CCR5 and CCR20, were approximately 8-fold and 18-fold more resistant to acute cadmium exposures than the parental M cell line. Examination of the roles of metallothionein, glutathione and membrane permeability indicates that although resistance may be multifactorial, the major change involves decreased uptake of cadmium by resistant cells.