title: Glucocorticoid independent mediation of interleukin-1 induced changes in serum zinc and liver metallothionein levels.
abstract: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) causes changes in zinc metabolism which have been attributed to mediation, at least in part, by glucocorticoids. However, IL-1 was found to actually lower serum corticosterone levels in rats. In addition, adrenalectomy only partially inhibited the ability of IL-1 to depress serum zinc levels and increase the amount of zinc associated with hepatic metallothionein. Furthermore, IL-1 increased total liver metallothionein protein to similar levels in both adrenalectomized and normal rats. Administering the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone with IL-1 to adrenalectomized rats produced additive, but not synergistic effects on serum zinc and metallothionein concentrations. Studies with actinomycin D suggested that IL-1 induction of metallothionein might involve glucagon.
mesh_terms: D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D003609:Dactinomycin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc