Stress-related Induction of Hepatic Metallothionein Synthesis and Increase in Peripheral Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in Mice

AbstractThis experiment examined whether hepatic metallothionein (MT) synthesis induced by stressful stimuli could reinforce the peripheral leukocyte defense mechanism in mice. A 2 × 2 cm section of dorsal skin was excised from male ICR mice (7 w. o.), then the hepatic MT concentration and superoxide anion production (SOA) in peripheral leukocytes were measured at 6 and 24 hr after the excision. The 6 hr-hepatic MT level was 6 times greater in the skin-excised mice than in the controls. SOA in the skin-excised mice was 2.3 times greater at 6 hr than in the controls, then decreased to the control level by 24 hr. Food deprivation increased the hepatic MT and SOA levels at 24 and 48 hr to a remarkably greater level than in the controls. The increases in SOA, which was measured by chemiluminescence response (CD were found to be due to an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the peripheral leukocytes in both the skin excision and food deprivation groups. These results suggest that s...