Intestinal absorption of cadmium and inorganic mercury in the rat: no major involvement of metallothionein.

The intestinal absorption of cadmium and inorganic mercury was studied in adult rats, administered the metal salts intragastrically or parenterally in repeated or single doses. The intestines contained only small proportion of the body burden; no major change was found in the intestinal level of metallothionein, copper and zinc. Therefore, no major role can be ascribed to intestinal metallothionein in limiting absorption of high oral doses of cadmium and mercury.