Abstract
Metallothionein (MT) is a low molecular-weight protein considered to be protective in function. It has been estimated in the liver and kidney of cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc treated rats offered antioxidative protection by selenium (Se), vitamin E and glutathione (GSH). These antioxidants stimulated induction of MT in liver and kidney of metal treated rats. Induction was greater in liver than kidney. α -tocopherol induced maximum synthesis of MT in the liver of mercury treated rats during lipid peroxidation, whereas maximum induction of MT in Cd fed rats was observed after GSH treatment. Minimum accumulation of mercury in comparison to other metals was observed in liver as well as kidney in glutathione treated rats. It is suggested that different metal species induced specific metallothionein(s) that express specific effects. The mechanism for maintaining high levels of MT might result from increased translation and transcription of MT. Present results suggest that these proteins not only scavenge free radicals (FR) but also decrease accumulation of metals in soft tissue.
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