Metallothionein gene expression in rat brain following intraperitoneal endotoxin administration

To clarify the acute-phase response in brain, we investigated the induction of metallothionein (MT) genes by administering an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) in rat intraperitoneum. We performed in situ hybridization on the serial brain sections to identify the cells expressing the MT genes in the acute-phase. After endotoxin administration, transcripts of MT genes were detected in the arachnoideal, ependymal cells and the Bergmann glia of the cerebellum, while no significant induction of the MT genes by zinc ion was observed in the brain. These results suggest that the acute-phase response occurs specifically in at least these three non-neuronal cells