Hepatic metallothionein as a source of @entity219 and XXXX during the first year of life.

@entity1 @entity920 @entity219 @entity462
Metallothionein, a high @entity462 -containing protein, can bind with both essential and nonessential metals and thus play an important role as a metal storage protein and also in the detoxification of toxic metals. Although in the @entity1 fetus, levels of trace minerals and metallothionein are very high, their postnatal changes are not well documented. The purpose of the present investigation, therefore, was to quantify the accumulation of metallothionein in premature and full-term @entity1 during the first year of life and to identify factors affecting its accumulation. From 47 postmortem samples, it was determined that hepatic metallothionein levels were highest in newborn premature and full-term @entity1 falling to levels found in older @entity1 by 4.4 months of age. Hepatic @entity219 levels were also highest in the youngest @entity1 , falling with increasing postnatal age. There was a significant positive correlation between @entity219 and metallothionein at all ages. However, there was a negative correlation between hepatic metallothionein levels and cystathionase activity. Hepatic @entity920 and metallothionein levels were unrelated. The renal concentration of metallothionein, @entity219 , and @entity920 were significantly lower than corresponding hepatic levels. The fall in hepatic levels of @entity219 and metallothionein during the first months of life correspond to a period of negative @entity219 balance and low endogenous @entity462 production in the newborn. Thus metallothionein may play an important role as a storage depot for these two essential nutrients during this critical period of active growth.
