Cadmium hypertension in rats

Rats receiving small amounts of cadmium in drinking water exhibited systolic hypertension, the incidence being greater in females than in males. In males the disorder appeared later in life. Cadmium-free rats seldom became hypertensive. Rats also exposed to a choice of 1% NaCl solution when young and when old appeared to show more hypertension than those not exposed; females took 65% more cadmium. The hypertension was usually associated with increased mortality and renal vascular changes.