Effect of several metallothionein inducers on oxidative stress defense mechanisms in rats.

One mechanism by which chemicals cause cellular injury is the formation of reactive oxygen species. In vitro studies have shown that metallothionein (MT), a small metal-binding, sulfhydryl-rich, readily inducible protein, can scavenge reactive oxygen species, especially hydroxyl radicals. Nevertheless, whether or not MT protects against oxidative stress in the intact animal is not known. Experimental induction of MT could help to clarify this question, however, it is unclear whether agents that induce MT also influence known antioxidant systems. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine whether the well-known MT inducers are specific for induction of MT or whether they might also influence other hepatic systems that protect against oxidative stress. Male rats were administered cadmium chloride (Cd; 30 mumol/kg, s.c.), zinc chloride (Zn; 1000 mumol/kg, s.c.), alpha-hederin (alpha-H, 30 mumol/kg, s.c.) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 mg/kg, s.c.) 24 h prior to measurement of antioxidant systems. Zn and alpha-H increased hepatic GSH concentration 20% and 55%, respectively. Cd significantly increased, whereas LPS reduced, the activities of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Glutathione S-transferases were not altered by any of the inducers. Cd also increased DT-diaphorase activity. Cd, Zn and alpha-H all decreased catalase activity 20-35%, while the activity of superoxide dismutase was unaffected by the inducers. The amount of total cytochrome P450 enzymes and cytochrome b5 were decreased by LPS, Cd and alpha-H, while Zn appeared to have no effect. The activities of P450 enzymes towards testosterone oxidation were also decreased by LPS, Cd and alpha-H. In conclusion, all four MT inducers examined affect systems known to protect cells against oxidative stress. Therefore, using these chemicals to determine the in vivo role of MT in protecting against oxidative stress poses difficulties.

Transgenic mice that overexpress metallothionein-I are protected from cadmium lethality and hepatotoxicity.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether metallothionein-I (MT-I) transgenic female mice (MT-TG) are resistant to cadmium (Cd) hepatotoxicity. Female MT-TG mice have 10- to 20-fold higher MT concentrations in liver than control mice and are more resistant to Cd-induced lethality than control mice. CdCl2 (3.7 mg Cd/kg, iv) was lethal to 73% of control mice, but only to 13% of MT-TG mice. Cd administration (3.1 mg/kg, iv) to control mice produced extensive liver injury as evidenced by 20- and 70-fold increases in serum enzyme activities of sorbitol dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase, respectively. MT-TG mice are considerably more resistant to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity than control mice, as evidenced by only about one-tenth the elevation in serum enzymes observed in control mice and a lower incidence of hepatocyte necrosis in MT-TG mice. To ascertain the mechanism of this protection, the distribution of Cd to various organs and the subcellular distribution of Cd in liver were determined 2 hr after Cd injection (109CdCl2, 3.5 mg Cd/kg, iv). The hepatic subcellular distribution of Cd was altered markedly in MT-TG mice, with much less Cd distributing to nuclei, mitochondria, and microsomes (25, 42, and 24% of controls, respectively), and more Cd to the cytosol (240% of controls). The increased cytosolic Cd was bound primarily to MT, as determined by G-75 gel chromatography. In addition, primary hepatocyte cultures from MT-TG mice maintained higher levels of MT than hepatocytes from control mice and were more resistant to Cd cytotoxicity than control hepatocytes. In conclusion, studies using MT-I transgenic mice demonstrate that MT protects against Cd lethality and hepatotoxicity, and this hepatoprotective effect of MT is also observed in hepatocyte cultures from MT-TG mice.

Characterization of metallothionein-I-transgenic mice.

A metallothionein-I-transgenic mouse strain (MT-TG) was characterized to determine whether they would be suitable to study the functions of this protein. MT-TG mice were visually indistinguishable from nontransgenic littermate controls, but had 10- to 20-fold higher basal levels of MT protein in pancreas, liver, and stomach, as well as 2- to 6-fold higher MT protein levels in other organs (kidney, intestine, uterus, testes, spleen, heart, and lung) than control mice, as determined by the Cd/hemoglobin assay. The MT-TG mice had 50% more Zn in liver and 300% more Zn in pancreas than control mice. Interestingly, female MT-TG mice have 4- to 5-fold higher MT levels in liver than those of males. To determine whether MT can be further increased by well-known MT inducers, control and MT-TG mice were given Zn (200 mumol/kg), Cd (20 mumol/kg), or diethyl maleate (DEM, 5 mmol/kg), and tissue MT concentrations were measured 24 hr later. MT-TG mice responded to MT inducers in a manner similar to control mice. The hepatic antioxidant components (glutathione (GSH), GSH-peroxidase, GSH-reductase, GSH S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, DT-diaphorase, and catalase) of MT-TG mice were not different from those of controls. The cytochrome P450 enzymes (total P450, b5, NADPH cytochrome c reductase) were normal in these MT-TG mice. The activities of CYP1A, CYP2B, and CYP2E enzymes in MT-TG mice were also similar to those of controls, as determined by ethoxy- and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation and chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation. Thus, MT-TG mice appear to be a good model for studying functions of MT.

Effect of selenium on plasma glucose of rats: role of insulin and glucocorticoids.

The effects of acute treatment (i.p.) of selenium (Se) on glucoregulation and on plasma levels of glucose, insulin and corticosterone were determined in both fed and 24-hour-fasted rats. In this experiment animals were treated with saline (control) or 1.3, 1.6 and 3.8 mg/kg doses of Se. Blood samples were collected before, 30, 60 and 90 min following injection. The results obtained show that acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Se (1.6 mg/kg or more) causes hyperglycemia in rats. It was found that Se does not change levels of plasma insulin in either fasted or fed animals. Se did, however, significantly increase the plasma levels of corticosterone in all Se-treated groups. In order to confirm the role of corticosterone and thus support the significance of adrenal glands in this hyperglycemic response, animals were subjected to bilateral adrenalectomy. Blood samples were collected before, 30, 60 and 90 min following intraperitoneal treatment with Se. The results indicate that bilateral adrenalectomy abolishes the hyperglycemic response to Se. It can be concluded that adrenal glands play a role in Se-induced hyperglycemia. The increase in corticosterone levels suggest the possibility of gluconeogenesis in contributing to this hyperglycemic response.