Abstract
The concentration of metallothionein in the liver of mice injected with hepatotoxins was determined, and the following results were obtained. 1. The concentration of metallothionein in the mouse liver was increased by the injection of o-acetaminophenol, acetaminophen, bromobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, 6-mercaptopurine or naphthylisothiocyanate. 2. The compounds causing fatty liver were injected to mice, and eight of 15 compounds examined increased the concentration of metallothionein in the liver. 3. Colchicine increased the concentration of zinc-thionein in the liver. The potency of colchicine inducting metallothionein was as high as that of cadmium. These results indicate that the concentration of metallothionein can increase in such a case of hepatic disorder.
