Age-dependent changes of MT-1 and MT-2 concentrations in the liver cytosol of LEC rats

Abstract

We determined the concentrations of metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and MT-2 in the liver cytosol of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model of Wilson disease, which develop hepatic disorders spontaneously, by using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with polyacrylamid-coated capillary. In addition, by comparing the values of MT by ELISA (total concentrations of MT-1 and MT-2),we confirmed that each concentration of MT-1 and MT-2 can be determined by CZE. Total MTs in the liver cytosol of LEC rats increased age-dependently with accumulation of Cu. MT-1/MT-2 ratio decreased age-dependently (1.73, 1.38 and 0.76), indicating that MT-2 was induced more than MT-1 with development of hepatic disorders.