INFLUENCE OF METAL PRETREATMENT ON THE ACUTE TOXICITY OF CADMIUM IN THE LARVAE OF GALLERIA-MELLONELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE)

The caterpillars of Galleria mellonella were in 24 hour intervals inje cted repeatedly with a challenge dose of 3 mug Cd2+/g body weight prio r to the following injection of a lethal concentration of Cd (12 mug/g ). The repeated pretreatment increased significantly the tolerance to the lethal dose of the heavy metal. A repeated injection with a challe nge dose of 3 mug Cd2+/g prior to the injection of Cd in a concentrati on of 8 mug/g increased significantly the content of a Cd-binding prot ein with a molecular weight approximately 10,000 daltons in the fat bo dy as compared with a single injection of an acute dose of 8 mug Cd2+/ g without pretreatment.