Detoxification of cadmium ions by metallothionein in the liver of free-living bank vole

Distribution of cadmium and zinc among cytosolic proteins of the liver and tissue respiration of this organ in bank vole. Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780), living in the forest polluted with coal industry fumes and in the forest relatively slightly polluted were examined. The obtained data indicate that except detoxification of cadmium by metallothionein, he short life span of voles causing the quick rate of replacement of the generations may play an important role in maintaining the biological continuity of the bank vole in polluted environment.