This study was performed to invstigate the effect of dietary protein level and source on cadmium intoxicification in rats. Forty-eight male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 171$pm$3g were blocked into 8 groups of 6 animals according to body weigth, and were raised for 30days. Eight experimental diets different with cadmium(0ppm, 400ppm)and protein(15%, 40%) levels and protein source[casien, I.S.P.(isolated soy protein)] were given to animals for 30days. Food intake, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, liver weight, kidney weight and femur weight were lower in cadmium added group, and higher in high protein groups(40% protein) than medium protein groups(15% protein). But, dietary protein source had no influence on them. Cadmium concerntration of liver was higher in rats fed casein than I.S.P. groups, and cadmium concentration in intestine was higher in high protein groups. In femur both high protein and I.S.P.diets increased cadmium concentrations. MT concdentrations in liver, kidney and intestine were higher in cadmium added group, and kidney intestine MT concentration were higher in high protein group. Absorption and retention rates of cadmium were lower in rat fed I.S.P. than animal fed casein among medium protein groups and cadmium concentration in blood and liver of I.S.P groups were lower than casein groups. But absorption and retention rates of cadmium were similar in high casein and I.S.P. groups. Renal damage by cadmium administration was not seen in all groups. Absorption rates of zinc and copper competing with cadmium in absorption process were lower in high protein groups than medium protein groups and lower in rats fed I.S.P. than casein. In conclusion, weight gain, F.E.R, and MT concentraion of high protein groups were higher than those of medium protein groups and absorption and retention rates of cadmium were lower in high protein groups. From these results, it was shown that cadmium toxicity was alleviated by high dietary protein. Meanwhile, the effect of dietary source on the cadmium toxicity was different with protein level. In medium protein groups absorption and retention rates of cadmium were much lower in rats fed I.S.P. than casein. In high protein groups, cadmium toxicity was not influenced by protein source and absorption and retention rates of cadmium were not different between casein and I.S.P. groups.