Metallothioneins and trace elements dyshomeostasis induced by exposure to gasoline vapor in mice.
To investigate the effects of air pollution related with the gasoline/petrochemical industry the expression of metallothionein I (MT-I) mRNA and tissue metals were analyzed in organs of mice, exposed to gasoline (G) vapor in laboratory conditions. Control groups consisted of intact mice and of those exposed in the metabolic chamber to fresh air. The data obtained by RT-PCR and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry have shown that exposure to G vapor leads to upregulation of MT-I mRNA in organs that receive a strong respiratory and olfactory input or participate in gasoline degradation and elimination (lungs, brain, kidney and liver). Besides, in the brain and in the lungs, kidney and liver a decreased tissue content of Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ and Mg²⁺ was found (p<0.001). Some of these changes were obtained also in mice closed in the metabolic chamber, pointing to the involvement of stress-induced mechanisms in the transcriptional regulation of MTs.
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Damir
D
Grebić
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Marin
M
Tota
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Hrvoje
H
Jakovac
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Dalibor
D
Broznić
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Jelena
J
Marinić
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Gordana
G
Canadi
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Cedomila
C
Milin
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. biserkars@medri.uniri.hr.
Biserka
B
Radosević-Stasić
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D005742:Gasoline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D005742:Gasoline; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C525355:metallothionein-1, mouse; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc