Increase in metallothionein content in rat tissues induced by x-irradiation

The amount of metallothionein in rat liver and kidney was increased 72 hr after irradiation by a high dose of X-irradiation (2,000 rad), but in other tissues the amount of metallothionein was not increased. An increase in metallothionein contents in rat liver and kidney was induced 72 hr after irradiation when rats were exposed to a single dose between 1,500 and 3,000 rad. Below a single 1,000-rad dose, the increase in metallothionein content was not observed. An increase in the metallothionein content in the liver was observed 6 hr after irradiation (2,000 rad). In kidney, the increase in the metallothionein content was observed 24 hr after irradiation. Although the zinc content in serum did not change significantly after irradiation (2,000 rad), the zinc content of the albumin fraction decreased slightly. (author)