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Title: Induction of metallothioneins (MT) by dexamethasone determined at isoprotein and messenger RNA levels

Conference · · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5435955

In this study induction of MT-I and MT-II by dexamethasone (DEX), a primary inducer of MT, was determined by HPLC analysis of protein and Northern blot analysis of MT mRNAs. Rats were injected with DEX (0.03-10 umol/kg) and 24 hrs later, hepatic concentrations of MTs were determined. In controls, only MT-II was detected (9.4 +/- 2.5 ug/g). DEX did not increase MT-I above the detection limit (5 ug/g) at any dosage whereas MT-II increased to 2.5-times control at dosages of 1 umol/kg and higher. Time-course experiments indicated that MT-II reached a maximum at 24 hrs and returned to control levels by 48 hrs whereas MT-I was never detected. To increase sensitivity of the HPLC assay, samples wee saturated with /sup 109/Cd prior to analysis. Results indicated that at 24 hrs, DEX (1 umol/kg) increased MT-I and MT-II to 1.5- and 2.5-times control levels, respectively. Northern blot hybridization with mouse cRNA probes indicated that 6 hrs after DEX injection, MT-I and MT-II mRNAs reached maximal levels of 2.9- and 3.7-times control levels, respectively, and returned to control levels by 12 hrs. Thus, in rats MT-II is more abundant than MT-I and preferentially accumulates following administration of DEX, and although MT mRNAs are induced coordinately by DEX, MT-II mRNA increases more than MT-I mRNA.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City
OSTI ID:
5435955
Report Number(s):
CONF-8604222-; TRN: 86-026633
Journal Information:
Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Vol. 45:3; Conference: 70. annual meeting of the Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA, 13 Apr 1986
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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