Response of hepatic metallothionein to iron administration

Female broiler chicks receiving an ip injection of Fe (10 mg/kg bw) were found to have a greatly increased level of hepatic metallothionein. The increase in metallothionein was not correlated with changes in serum corticosterone. Attempts to vary serum corticosterone levels by feeding metyrapone, an 11-β steroid hydroxylase inhibitor, were unsuccessful.