Yukihiko Tamura and Keiichi Ohya
Pharmacology, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Division of Bio-Matrix,
Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University,
1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
Abstract: Metallothionein (MT) is a metalloprotein with high
affinity for certain heavy metals. In the present study, the ability of
cadmium (Cd) to induce the synthesis of MT in dental pulp was investigated.
Rats were injected subcutaneously with CdCl2 (1.5ﾊmg Cd/kg) daily
for 7ﾊdays. Expression of the MT gene was demonstrated by reverse transcription
polymerase chain-reaction techniques. The results indicate that Cd induced
MT in dental pulp of rat incisor and this may be involved in the cellular
defense mechanism against Cd toxicity.
Keywords: Heavy metal, Metallothionein, Dental pulp
Copyrightｩ The Japanese Pharmacological Society 2000
[Back to TOC]