Fate of cadmium bound to phytochelatin in rats.

The fate of cadmium(Cd) bound to phytochelatin [PC, (γ-Glu-Cys) n -Gly)] was studied in rats using synthesized 109 Cd-PC. Less Cd was absorbed through the digestive tracts than CdCl 2 , but the ratio of renal Cd to hepatic Cd was higher. After parenteral administration of Cd-PC, Cd was distributed mainly in the liver, kidney, small intestine and pancreas. More Cd was found in the kidney than the liver after Cd-PC (n=5) administration. Most of the Cd was bound to the high molecular weight fraction in the hepatic cytosol 0.5 hr after administration and moved to the metallothionein fraction at 6 hr