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Some factors influencing liver metallothionein levels in rats and mice

Conference · · Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States)
OSTI ID:6430975
Liver metallothionein (MT) was measured by the 203-mercury binding method of Piotrowski in the livers of rats and mice subjected to bilateral adrenalectomy or to sham adrenalectomy. Sham operation was followed by an increase in the level of MT at 24 hours; this immediately began to decrease, reaching control levels by 7 days. Adrenalectomy was also followed by an increase in MT, but the levels remained elevated for several days before beginning to decline. Mice which were adrenalectomized and allowed to recover for 28 days showed an increase in MT when subjected to sham operation. Ether anaesthesia without an incision did not increase the level of MT. Hypophysectomized mice had higher levels of MT than did controls, and these levels were further increased by sham adrenalectomy. Sprague-Dawley rats showed a similar response to adrenalectomy and to sham operation. It is concluded that the sham operation-induced increase in MT is probably not a result of a stress-induced release of adrenal hormones, but that adrenal hormones may play some role in the degradation or turnover of MT. The pituitary may also have some role in MT turnover.
Research Organization:
Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
OSTI ID:
6430975
Report Number(s):
CONF-8106251-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States) Journal Volume: 15
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English