Rat kidney metallothionein induced by injection of Cd-thionein: Changes of chromatographic properties with time and their relation to copper content and kidney dysfunction.

Cadmium (Cd)-thionein was injected i.p. into adult rats to try to establish the relation between copper (Cu) content in the kidneys and its effect on the properties of metallothionein induced in the kidneys. Elution profiles of the re-synthesized kidney metallothionein changed with time after injection both on a Sephadex and on a gel permeation column (TSK GEL SW3000). The changes were correlated with Cu content in the kidneys caused by kidney dysfunction upon injection of Cd-thionein.