Distribution of zinc metallothionein I mRNA in rat brain using in situ hybridization

Metallothionein (MT) isoforms I and II were first identified and characterized in our laboratories in several regions of brain, in hippocampal neurons in primary culture, and in retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. In this study, by having employed the MT-I cDNA as a probe, we sought to gain...

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Published inNeurochemical research Vol. 19; no. 6; p. 761
Main Authors Hao, R, Cerutis, D R, Blaxall, H S, Rodriguez-Sierra, J F, Pfeiffer, R F, Ebadi, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1994
Subjects
Animals
Autoradiography
Blotting, Northern
Brain - cytology
Brain - metabolism
DNA Probes
DNA, Complementary
In Situ Hybridization
Liver - cytology
Liver - metabolism
Male
Metallothionein - biosynthesis
Organ Specificity
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
RNA, Messenger - analysis
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Sulfur Radioisotopes
Zinc - pharmacology
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Summary:Metallothionein (MT) isoforms I and II were first identified and characterized in our laboratories in several regions of brain, in hippocampal neurons in primary culture, and in retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. In this study, by having employed the MT-I cDNA as a probe, we sought to gain additional insight about the function of MT by discerning the regional distribution of its mRNA. Northern blot analyses of brain mRNA revealed that the administration of zinc enhanced dramatically MT-I mRNA (570 bp). The in situ hybridization study revealed that MT-I mRNA was located in several areas of brain, with the highest concentrations found in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and ventricles. The results of these studies are interpreted to suggest that zinc enhances the synthesis of MT mRNA and MT in turn may participate in zinc associated functions in neurons.
ISSN:0364-3190
DOI:10.1007/bf00967717