Levels of Metallothionein Messenger RNA in Foetal, Neonatal and Maternal Rat Liver

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Abstract
We have used translation in vitro of hepatic polyadenylated RNA to characterize the levels of metallothionein mRNA in foetal, neonatal, pregnant and nulliparous rats. The translation products of foetal hepatic metallothionein mRNA increased relative to other mRNA translation products from day 18 of gestation to birth and attained a maximum, maintained throughout suckling, which is tenfold above 17-day foetal hepatic levels and fourfold above adults levels. Maternal liver metallothionein mRNA decreased fivefold between 17 days and 20 days of gestation, rose sharply immediately before birth, and was low throughout lactation.