EN
Rats were fed a copper fortified diet (10 times the level in a standard diet) for a 4-week period and were concomitantly exposed to cadmium at a dose corresponding to 10 mg Cd/kg diet. The contents of cadmium in the carcass, and liver, kidneys, muscles and testicles and corresponding AUC values, calculated with respect to concentration-time curve, indicate that the copper supplement increased the absorption of cadmium from the gastrointestinal tract and the bodily and organ cadmium burden. On the other hand, an increase in body weight gain produced by the copper supplemental diet suggested that the toxic action of cadmium was limited.