APOMETALLOTHIONEIN IN RAT-LIVER

The identification of apometallothionein (AMT) in rat liver by reverse d-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) after gel per meation was realized in experiments performed both in vivo and in vitr o. The reliable assignment of the corresponding AMT peak permitted the detection and determination of AMT in different.groups. of experiment al and control rats. In all animals studied (more than 100 rats), AMT was always present in amounts higher than that of metallothionein (MT) or compatible with it. Induction of MT synthesis by CdCl2 subcutaneou s injections decreased the AMT level and increased the MT level, but n evertheless the amount of AMT still remained relatively high.