Biomaterial Database

Induction of synthesis and degradation of metallothionein-I in the tissues of rats injected with zinc. 1987

R K Mehra, and I Bremner

Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, U.K.

A radioimmunoassay specific for metallothionein-I (MT-I) has been used for the estimation of this protein in various tissues of the rat following a single intraperitoneal injection of ZnSO4 (2 mg Zn/kg body weight). Quantitative information has also been obtained about the rates of clearance of MT-I from selected tissues following Zn injection. Wide variations were observed in the basal levels of the protein in different tissues of the rat. The levels of MT-I (micrograms/g fresh weight) were high in kidneys (16.9) and testes (14.3), whereas liver (2.4), pancreas (2.2), intestinal mucosa (2.6) and spleen (0.53) contained only small amounts of the protein. MT-I levels in the liver and pancreas increased several fold following Zn injection. The liver had the highest MT-I levels (23.1) at 12 h post-injection, whereas pancreas recorded the highest level (21.6) at 4 h post-injection. The intestinal mucosa registered only a small increase in MT-I; kidneys, spleen and testes were almost unaffected. Concentrations of MT-I returned to the basal levels at 72 h post-injection in all the tissues studied. The biological half-lives of MT-I in the liver, pancreas and mucosa were estimated to be 13.7, 9.8 and 15.0 h respectively.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D010179	Pancreas	A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013154	Spleen	An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.
D013431	Sulfates	Inorganic salts of sulfuric acid.	Sulfate,Sulfates, Inorganic,Inorganic Sulfates
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle