Influence of zinc on the ontogeny of hepatic metallothionein in the fetal rat

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-168-41234· OSTI ID:5807655

Charles-Shannon, V L; Sasser, L B; Burbank, D K; Kelman, B J

The ontogeny of hepatic metallothioneins (Mt) in fetal tissue as related to dietary and hepatic Zn was investigated. Sixty 6-month-old female rats were divided into two groups and given either double-distilled water or water containing 700 )g of Zn per milliliter. Dams from each group were killed on 16, 19, or 21 days of gestation, and maternal and fetal livers were removed. Mt content of the tissue was estimated by Piotrowski's Hg-saturation method. Results established the presence of an endogenous hepatic Mt in the fetal rat as early as 16 days of gestation. We further demonstrated a marked progressive increase in fetal Mt from Day 16 through gestation accompanied by a decrease in maternal hepatic Mt. It is suggested that Zn increased fetal Mt by inducing fetal synthesis, redistributing fetal Mt, or increasing Mt transport to the fetus, because both fetal and maternal hepatic Mt were increased. Fetal hepatic Mt concentration was several times greater than maternal Mt at corresponding stages of gestation. Mt may serve to either ensure adequate storage of Zn or Cu for fetal development or protect the fetus against metal toxicity, but the significance of these high endogenous levels of fetal Mt are not clear at this time.

• Research Organization: Comparative Animal Research Lab., Oak Ridge, TN
• OSTI ID: 5807655
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States), Vol. 168:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
METALLOTHIONEIN
ONTOGENESIS
ZINC
METABOLISM
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FETUSES
HOMOGENATES
LIVER
MERCURY 203
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PREGNANCY
RATS
SCINTISCANNING
UPTAKE
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GLANDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METALLOPROTEINS
METALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
551000* - Physiological Systems