title: Induction of metallothionein in liver and changes of essential metal levels in selected tissues by three dextran derivatives.
abstract: Three dextran derivatives (dextran sulfate, DEAE-dextran and Dextran T500) were injected intraperitoneally into mice to study the induction of zinc-thionein in the liver, and the changes of essential metal levels in the liver, kidneys and spleen. The former was investigated with a high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the latter with an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer. Dextran sulfate and DEAE-dextran induced a large amount of hepatic zinc-thionein dose-dependently, while Dextran T500 did not induce metallothionein substantially at the doses studied 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg body wt). The injection of dextran sulfate resulted in a significant increase of spleen weight, with a transitory increase of calcium concentration in the three tissues and a significant decrease of iron level in the spleen. In accord with the induction of zinc-thionein by dextran sulfate and DEAE-dextran, zinc concentration in the liver also increased transitionally after both injections and the time-course of the hepatic zinc level in dextran sulfate showed a close resemblance to that of the calcium one.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D008667:Metalloproteins; D008670:Metals; D008668:Metallothionein