Abstract: Objective   To survey the expression and cellular localization of metallothionein-1 (MT-1) in mouse kidney. Methods   To detect the protein of MT-1 in mouse renal cortex and medulla by Western blot. Immunohistochemistry，double-immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy were applied to observe the intracellular location of MT-1 in structures of mouse kidney. Results   The expression of MT-1 was detected in cortex and medulla of mouse kidney. The expression of MT-1was mainly in proximal convoluted tubule and distal convoluted tubule of cortical labyrinth, and proximal straight tubule, distal straight tubule and collecting duct of ray medullary and medulla of kidney. The most strongest expression of MT-1 was in proximal tubule, secondary in distal tubule and last in collecting duct. The intracellular location of MT-1 was in intracytoplasm, specific in lysosome, of proximal tubule and distal tubule; whereas was in brush borde of proximal tubule and basilar part of collecting duct. Conclusions    The differdnt of MT-1 expressed in proximal tubule, distal tubule and collecting duct may determine different roles of it in kidney.

Key words: MT-1, kidney, immunohistochemistry, mice, inbred ICR