Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic metal and food is the major source of Cd exposure for most people. Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) is thought the main Cd transporter in vivo. However, in our previous study we found an unknown Cd pathway other than DMT1. Thus, additional in vivo study are needed to explore the Cd pathway.
 Seven-week-old ICR mice were given 1 ppm CdCl2 aq in drinking water for zero to five days adlibitum. The concentrations of Cd in liver, kidney, and intestinal epithelium were measured. Gene expression changes in intestinal epithelium were analyzed by microarray and real time PCR analyses. Intestinal epithelial Cd concentrations were increased up to day2, but from day3 they decreased irrespective of an increase in total Cd intake. The microarray and real-time PCR analyses could not demonstrate Cd concentration-specific alterations in intestinal epithelium after this short-term and low-dose Cd exposure. However some gene expression changes associated with unknown Cd uptake pathways through the intestinal brush border may have played a role in the observed specific Cd concentration changes. It may be possible that metallothionein plays a role in the Cd uptake pathway.

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