J. Alexander, J. Aaseth
Aug 1, 1980
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0
Influential Citations
64
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Quality indicators
Journal
Biochemical pharmacology
Abstract
Abstract An i.p. diethylmaleate injection (dose: 3.9 mmoles/kg) decreased the endogenous Cu and Zn excretion in rat bile to 20 and 50 per cent, respectively. A corresponding decrease of the glutathione levels in liver and bile suggests that copper, at least partly, is excreted in the bile as a glutathione complex or by other glutathione-dependent mechanisms. Similar mechanisms may also be active for Zn. Selenite (5 μmoles/kg) or diethyldithiocarbamate (67 μmoles/kg) treatment also decreased the copper excretion in bile, but the glutathione levels were not significantly affected. These agents may act either by forming metal complexes which are not excreted, or by blocking the transfer of the metal from proteins to glutathione in liver cells. Selenite and diethyldithiocarbamate did not significantly influence the excretion of zinc in the bile. Orally given selenite (5.7 or 57 μmoles/100 g food) increased the kidney levels of copper and zinc and decreased liver levels of zinc, whereas diethyldithiocarbamate (6.7 mmoles/100 g food) caused increased liver content of copper and decreased kidney levels of copper and zinc. The differences observed between copper and zinc distribution when using selenite or diethyldithiocarbamate treatment may be due to different organ retention of the metal complexes formed.