Neonatal hepatic mitochondrocuprein

Immunohistological Studies of Metallothionein

“…The metallic constituents of the adult hepatic metallothionein is almost exclusively zinc, while the adult renal protein contains nearly equal amounts of cadmium and zinc, as well as trace amounts of copper and/or mercury in some cases (16). On the other hand, the search for copper-containing proteins in newborn liver, an organ extremely rich in copper, was initiated by Porter et al (14). Mitochondrocuprein, a particulate copper-protein, was fractionated in 1964 (16).…”

The trace elements chromium, manganese, copper and zinc in fetal liver tissue

“…Metallothionein capacity is insufficient in patients with Wilson's disease where there is a disturbance in the copper utilisation for ceruloplasmin .synthesis is underdeveloped. In order to protect the organism from the effect of free copper ions an insoluble mitochondrial cuprein, is formed s an additional bindingprotein [10,35,36,37]. This has also been found in rats who were given toxic amounts of copper in their drinking water [33].…”

“…A major portion of the metal is bound to two specific proteins. One of these has been designated äs neonatal hepatic mitochondrocuprein, the other is metallothionein which is located in the cytosol [35,36,37,47]. It appears appropriate to assume a storage function of the fetal liver tissue for copper because the elevated copper concentrations decrease to adult levels within a few weeks after birth.…”

Maternal and Fetal Serum Copper Levels at Delivery

“…The high concentration of copper in the fetal liver is localized predominantly in the mitochondrial frac tion [17].…”