Abstract
Bismuth-stimulated elevation of metallothionein levels is proposed to inhibit side effects of chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and adriamycin. In the present study, low zinc intake by rats limited bismuth-induced accumulation of renal metallothionein protein, and metallothionein-associated zinc and bismuth. In contrast, bismuth strongly elevated metallothionein mRNA in rats fed low zinc. Thus, bismuth does not appear to require zinc to stimulate high metallothionein mRNA accumulation, but seems to need this metal to accumulate metallothionein protein. Therefore, the efficacy of bismuth in restricting chemotherapy drug side effects in humans may depend on the zinc status of the people under treatment.
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