IMMUNOHISTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF METALLOTHIONEIN

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Abstract
The occurrence of metallothionein, a metal-binding cysteine-rich low MW protein, in the human fetal kidney of 4-10 mo. gestational age was observed for the 1st time by the immunofluorescent antibody technique. The protein was visualized by direct and indirect methods using the purified fluorescent isothiocyanate conjugate of the antiserum, which was obtained by immunizing rabbits with equine renal metallothionein-1B. A metal-binding protein with MW of .apprx. 10,000 was obtained by gel filtration chromatography of human fetal kidneys. It is thiolate group-rich-protein and contains Cu and Zn. Metallothionein in the human fetal kidney is presumably bound to Cu and Zn. Fluorescence was diffused throughout the cytoplasms of the tubules but not in the glomerulus of the fetal kidney. This localization is the same as that found in the adult human kidney. The intensity of fluorescence seems to increase parallel to the process of gestation, and to depend on the concentration of Cu in fetal kidneys, which is presumably bound to metallothionein.