Metallothionein induction as a potent means of radiation protection in mice

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576984· OSTI ID:6018750

Matsubara, J; Tajima, Y; Karasawa, M

A striking resistance to lethal damage from a single dose of 6-8 Gy of X rays has been found in mice which had received various pretreatments to induce metallothionein (MT) synthesis in the liver prior to irradiation. Mice were injected with manganese (10 mg Mn/kg) or cadmium (3 mg Cd/kg) salt subcutaneously, or a patch of dorsal skin (2 X 2 cm2) was excised 1 or 2 days prior to irradiation. The increased tolerance of these mice to radiation was established by a marked decrease of mortality rate, an increase of mean survival time, a reduction of weight loss, and a smaller decrease in the number of leukocytes as compared with the control group. The LD50/30 for control mice was 6.3 Gy, while the corresponding values for the groups pretreated with Mn, Cd, and skin excision were 7.5, 7.7, and 7.9 Gy, respectively. The normal level of MT in mouse liver was approximately 25 micrograms/g tissue. This level increased 2.5- to 3-fold 24 h after 6.3 Gy irradiation. The MT levels of mice pretreated with Cd, Mn, and skin excision were increased 8-, 5-, and 7-fold, respectively, prior to irradiation as compared with the preirradiation control. These results indicate that the induction of MT in mouse liver is a significant factor in the mechanism of protection against radiation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tokyo, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6018750
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 111:2; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BODY
CADMIUM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MANGANESE
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
METALS
MICE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RODENTS
SKIN
SURVIVAL TIME
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION