Regulation of the endogenous mouse metallothionein I and II (MT-I and MT-II) genes by heavy metals and glucocorticoids was studied in cultured mouse cells. Both mRNAs were measured simultaneously by solution hybridization with [3H]MT-I cDNA and [32P]MT-II cDNA, and the absolute amount of each mRNA was calculated by using a single-stranded M13 standard that contained both mRNA sequences. Both genes responded identically to different concentrations of metals (zinc, cadmium, and copper) and dexamethasone. Furthermore, the time courses of induction of both mRNAs were the same. However, under all conditions there was 1.2- to 1.9-fold more MT-I mRNA than MT-II mRNA. We conclude that both genes are regulated identically by receptors for glucocorticoids and metals but that the rate of transcription from the MT-I gene is slightly higher than from the MT-II gene.