1992 Volume 38 Issue 5 Pages 425-430
To investigate the induction of hepatic metallothionein (MT) after administration of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca), male mice of the ICR strain were injected subcutaneously with Sr and/or Ca at a dose of 2 mmol/kg body weight, respectively. Both metals induced hepatic MT, though Ca was twice as effective as Sr when observed at 24 h. When Sr and Ca were co-administered, hepatic MT induction was essentially additive and hence no synergism was observed in the induction. When intraperitoneal (i.p.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) injections were compared, the induction by s.c. injection was higher in spite of the lower hepatic concentration of Sr at 24 h. When hepatic Sr concentration was also followed during an initial period, the i.p. injection always showed a higher level than the s.c. injection. Our results showed that the higher level of MT induction observed with s.c. injection of Sr relative to i.p. injection is not due to the higher Sr level.
