Treatment with the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate modifies cadmium accumulation and metallothionein induction in C57 and C3H mice

With the continuing concern over both steroid compounds and metals as potential environmental pollutants, the interactions between these compounds could become an important health issue. In our continuing study of the interactions of cadmium with various steroids we recently found that testosterone pretreatment protects against cadmium-induced toxicity in C57 mice but has no effect in C3H mice. The basis of this strain-specific acquired tolerance to cadmium is still unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate (CA) on the toxicokinetics and toxicity of cadmium and on the ability of cadmium to induce metallothionein (MT) in male C57 and C3H mice. To assess the tissue accumulation of cadmium, the mice were given CA (10 mg/kg, sc, at 48, 24, and 0 h) prior to cadmium (10 mumol/kg, 0 h). The tissue distribution of cadmium was markedly affected by CA pretreatment, as accumulation of cadmium in liver of both strains was reduced 24 h after cadmium administration. Renal ...