Open AccessCadmium Induces Expression of Metallothionein in Rat Dental Pulp.
Author(s) -
Yukihiko Tamura,
Keiichi Ohya
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.83.362
Subject(s) - metallothionein , cadmium , pulp (tooth) , chemistry , metalloprotein , gene expression , transcription (linguistics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , biochemistry , dentistry , biology , enzyme , medicine , organic chemistry , linguistics , philosophy
Metallothionein (MT) is a metalloprotein with high affinity for certain heavy metals. In the present study, the ability of cadmium (Cd) to induce the synthesis of MT in dental pulp was investigated. Rats were injected subcutaneously with CdCl2 (1.5 mg Cd/kg) daily for 7 days. Expression of the MT gene was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain-reaction techniques. The results indicate that Cd induced MT in dental pulp of rat incisor and this may be involved in the cellular defense mechanism against Cd toxicity.