Interactions between Zn and Cu in LEC rats, an animal model of Wilson's disease

Histochemistry and Cell Biology
Alessandro SantonV Albergoni

Abstract

The effect of oral Zn treatment was studied in the liver and kidneys of 26 male Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats (mutant animals, 5 weeks old) in relation to both the interaction between Zn and Cu and the localisation and concentration of metallothionein (MT). Rats receiving 80 mg zinc acetate daily by gavage and control rats receiving no treatment were killed after 1 or 2 weeks. By immunohistochemical and analytical chemical techniques we revealed that treated rats had higher levels of MT in the hepatic and renal cells compared to untreated ones. Tissue Zn concentrations were significantly higher in treated rats compared to untreated whereas Cu concentrations decreased in the liver and kidneys as indicated by analytical chemical analyses. MT levels also decreased with treatment period. A histochemical procedure, obtained using autofluorescence of Cu-metallothioneins, confirms these findings: after 2 weeks, the signal decreased in both the liver and kidney sections. This gives a greater understanding of the mechanism of Cu metabolism in the two tissues considered. These results suggest that Zn acts both to compete for absorption on the luminal side of the intestinal epithelium and to induce the synthesis of MT.

Citations

Jun 24, 2003·The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine·Fabio FarinatiGiacomo Carlo Sturniolo
Jan 16, 2003·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Alessandro SantonGiacomo Carlo Sturniolo
Feb 14, 2007·Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology·Akiko SaitoHiroshi Hara
Apr 6, 2004·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Alessandro SantonPaola Irato
Jul 4, 2007·Veterinary Pathology·M Kitagaki, M Hirota
Feb 24, 2018·Journal of Neurochemistry·Emily ReedOliver Bandmann
Dec 17, 2002·Histochemistry and Cell Biology·Esther Asan

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