Identification of metallothionein in parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells of the adult rat.
Parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells were isolated from the livers of control, starved, Zn2+-injected and Cd2+-injected rats. Parenchymal cells were prepared by differential centrifugation after perfusion of the liver with collagenase. Non-parenchymal cells were separated from parenchymal cells by unit-gravity sedimentation and differential centrifugation. Yields of 2 x 10(8) non-parenchymal cells with greater than 95% viability and less than 0.2% contamination with parenchymal cells were obtained without exposing cells to Pronase. Metallothioneins-I and -II were identified in parenchymal cells and non-parenchymal cells from Zn2+-treated rats. The metallothionein contents of parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells and intact liver were quantified by a competitive 203Hg-binding assay. Administration of heavy-metal salts significantly increased the metallothionein content of both cell populations, although the concentration of the protein was approx. 2.5-fold greater in parenchymal cells than in non-parenchymal cells. Overnight starvation increased the metallothionein content of parenchymal cells without altering that of non-parenchymal cells. The potential significance of this differential response by different liver cell types with regard to the influence of Zn2+ on stress-mediated alterations in hepatic metabolism is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013217:Starvation / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
D008667:Metalloproteins; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc