Kinetics of nickel binding in hepatic and renal cytosol of(63)NiCl 2-treated rats.

Elution profiles of nickel-binding protein were investigated in hepatic and renal cytosol of rats at various time intervals (6, 16, 24, and 48 h) after intraperitoneal administration of(63)Ni (1 mg Ni/kg. B. Wt. = 400 µCi as(63)NiCl2). The nickel-binding proteins were characterized in terms of absorbance at 254 nm, sulfhydryl content, and(63)Ni counts. The results demonstrated that in liver it was bound to both high as well as low mol wt sulfhydryl proteins and glutathione-like moiety with a maximum incorporation at 16 h, after which it declined and by 48 h, very little(63)Ni was associated with the bioligands. In kidney the incorporation of(63)Ni was approximately 400-fold higher than liver and most of(63)Ni was associated with the low mol. wt. sulfhydryl moiety. Kidney also exhibited maximum incorporation of(63)Ni at 16 h that was metabolized by 48 h.