title: Metallothionein gene expression in testicular interstitial cells and liver of rats treated with cadmium.
abstract: The rodent testes are generally more susceptible to cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity than the liver. Cd induces predominantly testicular interstitial cell (TIC) tumors. In order to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying tissue differences in Cd sensitivity, we compared Cd-induced metallothionein (MT) gene expression, MT protein accumulation, and Cd retention in freshly isolated TICs and liver. Adult male Fischer rats received a s.c. injection of 4.0 micromol Cd/kg or vehicle and 24 h later tissues were sampled and TICs isolated. MT-I and MT-II mRNA levels were determined by slot-blot analysis followed by densitometry scanning, and MT was estimated by the Cd-heme method. Testicular lesions were not grossly or histologically observed in rats treated with 4 micromol Cd/kg. Both MT mRNA and MT (as determined by Cd-binding capacity) were constitutively present in TICs as well as the liver. TICs isolated from Cd-treated rats accumulated more Cd (4-fold), and had higher levels of MT-I (1.9-fold) and MT-II (1.4-fold) mRNAs over control, but contained less MT (30% decrease) than TICs isolated from control animals. Cd exposure substantially increased hepatic Cd content (6000-fold), MT (58-fold), and MT-I mRNA (5.3-fold), but did not increase MT-II mRNA. Thus, our findings indicate that, although low-dose Cd exposure results in increases of MT mRNA in TICs it does not enhance MT synthesis within these cells. The inability to induce the metal-detoxicating MT-protein, in response to Cd, might account for higher susceptibility of testes to Cd toxicity and carcinogenesis relative to liver.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bare
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Waalkes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein