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A histochemical and immunocytochemical study of hepatic copper and metallothionein in the pre‐ and post‐natal rat
Author(s) -
Elmes Margaret E.,
Haywood Susan,
Jasani Bharat
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711640114
Subject(s) - metallothionein , immunocytochemistry , copper , pathology , immunohistochemistry , biology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Histochemical and immunocytochemical methods to demonstrate copper, copper‐associated protein, lipfuscin, and metallothionein were applied to the liver of fetal and neonatal rats (mid‐term, pre‐term, and 1,3, and 7 days post‐natal). Copper was detected only at 1 and 7 days post‐natal. No copper‐associated protein was found in any liver examined. Lipofuscin granules were present around term in small numbers but were most abundant at 7 days post‐natal when the majority of them were also positive for copper. Metallothionein staining, both nuclear and cytoplasmic, was maximal at mid‐term and becames less intense with maturity. Although nuclear staining was always present, cytoplasmic, staining varied between different areas of the liver. No marked difference in staining intensity was found between 3 and 7 days post‐natal. There are marked differences in copper metabolism in the maturing liver between the rat and man.