The effects of age, sex, and zinc status on the accumulation of (copper, zinc)- metallothionein in rat kidneys.

A study has been made of the distribution of copper in the kidneys of growing rats. Renal copper concentrations increased steadily with age and were greater in female than in male animals. Most of the copper was present as (copper, zinc)-metallothionein and two forms of this protein were isolated and characterized from the kidneys of mature female rats. That copper metabolism in kidneys is subject to hormonal influence was indicated by a reduction in the concentrations of copper and (copper, zinc)-metallothionein in ovariectomized rats and by an increase in their concentrations after the administration of progesterone. Concentrations of renal (copper, zinc)-metallothionein were less in zinc-deficient than zinc-adequate rats during pregnancy and after progesterone administration.