ROLE OF METALLOTHIONEIN IN 4-AMINOPYRAZOLO[3,4-D]PYRIMIDINE-ADMINISTERED MOUSE PANCREAS

Pancreatic metallothionein (MT) and zinc levels were measured after th e administration of 4-aminopyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine (4APP) to mice to determine the role of pancreatic MT. 4APP was found to increase the p ancreatic MT level dose-dependently; the pancreatic MT level in mice a dministered 175 mg/kg of 4APP was 3.9 fold higher than that in control mice. When 40 mg/kg or less of 4APP was administered, the zinc concen tration of the pancreatic cytosol fraction did not differ from that in control mice, while after 175 mg/kg of 4APP it was 1.7-fold higher. T here was no difference in plasma glucose and insulin levels between th e controls and mice administered 175 mg/kg of 4APP, although the plasm a alpha-amylase activity was reduced in the latter. Moreover, a linear negative relationship was observed between pancreatic MT level and pl asma alpha-amylase activity (r = - 0.795, p < 0.01). These findings su ggest that pancreatic MT is affected by the disruption of the exocrine function in 4APP-administered mouse pancreas.