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Metallothionein expression during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in cadmium-pretreated rats

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Abstract

Metallothionein is a low molecular mass protein inducible mainly by heavy metals, having high affinity for binding cadmium, zinc and copper. In the present study we investigated the expression of metallothionein in regenerating liver, at different time intervals, in cadmium pretreated partially hepatectomized rats. Liver metallothionein is highly expressed during regeneration in-duced by partial hepatectomy in rats, providing zinc within the rapidly growing tissue. Cadmium pretreatment caused inhibition of the first peak of liver regeneration, while metallothionein expression was markedly more prominent in the liver residues of cadmium-pretreated rats. These results demonstrate that although metallothionein able to bind temporarily metal ions as zinc and cadmium has been highly expressed, the liver regenerative process was inhibited possibly due to the effects of cadmium on other pivotal events necessary to the DNA replication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 75, M.Asias Str. GR 115 27 Goudi, Athens, Greece

    Alexandra P. Margeli, Stamatios E. Theocharis, Niki N. Yannacou, Chara Spiliopoulou & Antonios Koutselinis

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  1. Alexandra P. Margeli
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  2. Stamatios E. Theocharis
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  3. Niki N. Yannacou
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  4. Chara Spiliopoulou
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  5. Antonios Koutselinis
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Margeli, A.P., Theocharis, S.E., Yannacou, N.N. et al. Metallothionein expression during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in cadmium-pretreated rats. Arch Toxicol 68, 637–642 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03208343

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03208343

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