title: Orally administrated rare earth element cerium induces metallothionein synthesis and increases glutathione in the mouse liver.
abstract: The influence of oral administration of rare earth element cerium (Ce) was studied in relation to metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) content in the organs of ICR mice, which were administered heavy metal cadmium (Cd) for comparison. Male ICR mice were divided into 9 groups: 1 control group, 4 cerium groups and 4 cadmium groups, each with 4 mice, for a total of 36 mice. Ce groups included a 20 ppm CeCl3 diet (Ce-low) group and a 200 ppm CeCl3 diet (Ce-high) group, as did Cd groups, i.e., a 20 ppm CdCl2 diet (Cd-low) group and a 200 ppm CdCl2 diet (Cd-high) group. Each group was subdivided in 2 groups except a control group: 6-week administration group and 12-week administration group. The level of plasma aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activity, plasma alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity, plasma cholesterol and plasma triglyceride in the Ce-low, Cd-low, Ce-high, and Cd-high group were higher than that of control group, although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05). By contrast, both Ce and Cd groups had higher levels of MT and GSH in hepatic cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and decreased liver tissue level of lipoperoxide (p < 0.05). These groups also had decreased plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05), and increased plasma level of lipoperoxide (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that orally administered Ce increases MT and GSH as an antioxidant in the mouse liver, and these reaction are probably caused by increases in the oxidative stress with Ce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Akita University, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawagoe
authors.forename: Fujiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Shou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cun Wang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002563:Cerium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002104:Cadmium; D002563:Cerium; D008668:Metallothionein; D002784:Cholesterol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D005978:Glutathione