Metallothionein induction by sodium selenite at two different ambient temperatures in mice.

The induction of metallothionein (MT) synthesis by sodium selenite was investigated in mice with regard to the hypothermic response known to be caused by sodium selenite. Mice received a subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite at two doses (20 and 45 mumol/kg) under two ambient temperature (22 and 33 degrees C) conditions. Hepatic MT concentration was significantly increased by an injection of sodium selenite compared to the control, whereas no significant effect of ambient temperature was observed. The distribution of radiolabeled selenium was examined in vivo and in vitro. When sodium selenite was injected into mice, radiolabeled selenium was mostly eluted in a fraction larger in molecular weight than MT and was not found in a fraction corresponding to MT. When sodium selenite was added to the hepatic supernatant of the mice that had been injected with zinc sulfate, zinc in zinc-thionein was not displaced by radiolabeled selenium.