ZINC METABOLISM IN METALLOTHIONEIN-KNOCKOUT MICE

Authors: House, William; WASTNEY, M - GEORGETOWN MEDICAL UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Metallothionein (Mt) is considered to have an important role in the regulation of Zn metabolism. The present study assessed Zn kinetics in control mice strain 129/Sv-+

++/J) and in Mt-null mice (strain 129/Sv-Mt1Mt2) that do not express Mt1 or Mt2 in order to identify differences in Zn metabolism in vivo due to Mt. Female mice, fed a adiet containing 100 mg Zn/kg, were given 65Zn p.o.; Zn and 65Zn were then measured in plasma, red blood cells, liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, heart, lungs, pelt, bone brain, eyes, reproductive tract, muscle, and intestinal segments for 8 days; urine and feces were collected separately for 2, 4 or 8 d. After administering 65Zn, mice (n=4 of each strain) were killed at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 hr and 1, 2, 4, and 8 d. More 65Zn entered plasma during the first 30 min in Mt-null mice than in controls. Zn concentration and 65Zn activity were lower in brain and pancreas of Mt-null mice than in the controls. Mt affects Zn absorption an distribution to some tissues in vivo.