Shiyntum H. Metallothioneins I+II in the brain and blood of laboratory animals under effects of low doses of Cadmium and pathological states

The dissertation is focused on the coverage of the neuroprotective function of metallothioneins I+II induced by the chronic effects of low doses of cadmium or inflammatory factors in the postoperative period and under conditions of ischemia. For the first time a quantitative description of the distribution of metallothioneins I + II in different areas of the brain of rats and gerbils during postnatal development was presented, similar and distinctive features were determined. The distribution of MT-I+II in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and thalamus of gerbils and rats during postnatal life has a similar dynamic but quantitatively differs in experimental animals depending on the brain parts. Analyses revealed that the contents of MT-I+II in the hippocampus of newborn gerbils and rats were higher than in any other compartment at various stages of postnatal development. As the animals aged, the levels of MT-I+II significantly decreased. Compared with gerbils the change of MT-I+II level in the rat's brain is more significant, which should be taken into account when conducting experiments on various laboratory animals. It has been experimentally proven that MT-I+II is one of the regulators of hyperalgesia and inflammation in postoperative terms. The content of MT-І+ІІ decreases both in the blood and in the brain under post-operative hyperalgesia. The use of 100 micrograms of exogenous MT-I+II per animal for 2 days before and after surgery reduces hyperalgesia and the number of proinflammatory factors in the surgical site, the therapeutic effect was pronounced in comparison with the control (placebo) groups; the levels of proinflammatory cytokines diminishing. The physiological test of animal behavior during the week after the operation also confirmed the positive effect of the use of MT-I+II.