Differential effect of adrenalectomy on rat liver metallothionein mRNA levels in basal and stress conditions.

Liver metallothionein (MT) mRNA and serum MT levels of adrenalectomized (ADX) and sham-ADX rats in basal and stress (1, 3 or 6 h of restraint) conditions have been measured. Serum MT levels were overall lower in ADX than in sham-ADX rats. Basal liver MT mRNA levels were increased in ADX rats, suggesting that glucocorticoids have an inhibitory role on the regulation of liver MT synthesis. In contrast, liver MT mRNA levels were increased by stress in sham-ADX but not in ADX rats, suggesting a stimulatory role for glucocorticoids. These results suggest that glucocorticoids have a different role in liver MT regulation depending on the physiological situation.