Einfluß eines alimentären Zinkmangels auf die Lipidzusammensetzung der Erythrocytenmembran wachsender Ratten

[Zinc--update of an essential trace element]

Since the recognition of zinc as an essential trace element in man and animals there has been a remarkable progress in our knowledge of the role of zinc in nutritional physiology, biology and medicine during the last few decades. Highlights in zinc research, mechanisms and homeostatic regulation of zinc absorption, sources of zinc intake, dietary factors and mineral interactions affecting zinc bioavailability are reviewed in the present paper. This is followed by an overview of the biochemical functions of zinc in enzymes, gene expression, endocrinology, immunology and oxidative stress. General signs and metabolic consequences of zinc deficiency as well as excessive intake and toxicity of zinc are summarized. Furthermore, national and international dietary zinc recommendations and different methods to determine the zinc status are discussed.

Subcellular distribution of protein kinase C (pKC) in erythrocytes and concentration of D-myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in platelets and monocytes of force-fed zinc-deficient rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether alimentary zinc (Zn) deficiency affects the activities of the Zn metalloenzymes protein kinase C (pKC) and the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in force-fed Zn-deficient rats. The in vivo activity of pKC was determined by measuring the subcellular distribution of the enzyme between the cytosolic and the particulate fraction of erythrocytes, whereas the activity of PLC was measured indirectly through the concentration of its metabolite inositol-1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) in platelets and monocytes. For this purpose, 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats with an average live mass of 126 g were divided into 2 groups of 12 animals each. The Zn-deficient and the control rats received a semisynthetic casein diet with a Zn content of 1.2 and 24.1 ppm, respectively. All animals were fed the same amount of the diet (10.8 g dry matter [DM]/d and rat) four times daily by gastric tube. After 12 d, the depleted rats were in a state of severe Zn deficiency, as demonstrated by a 70% lower Zn concentration and a 66% reduction in the serum activity of alkaline phosphatase. The radio-immunologically determined concentration of IP3 was reduced by a significant 55% in the platelets of the Zn-deficient rats (8.4 pmol IP3/ 5 x 10(8)) as compared with the control rats (18.8 pmol IP3/5 x 10(8)), whereas the IP3 concentration in the monocytes was not affected by the alimentary Zn supply (1.4 vs 1.2 pmol IP3/10(6)), nor was there any difference between the Zn-deficient and the control rats with regard to the radioenzymatically determined specific activity of pKC, either in the cytosolic fraction (32.7 vs 32.5 pmol P/min/mg protein) or in the particulate fraction (38.1 vs 36.5 pmol P/min/mg protein) of the erythrocytes.

[The effect of zinc depletion on the fat content and fatty acid composition of the liver and brain in forcibly fed rats]

In the present work the influence of zinc deficiency on fat content and fatty acid composition of liver and fatty acid composition of brain of rats with a high food intake was investigated. Using the force-feeding technique the rats were fed 14.5 g food daily at days 1 to 4, and then 11.6 g food for later days. After 7 days the zinc-deficient animals had a fatty liver which was characterized by an increase in fat content (68%) and dry matter (23%). The amounts of lauric acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid were also increased by 100 to 200% in the liver of zinc-deficient animals, whereas the amount of arachidonic acid was decreased by 29%. The amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in the liver were not changed by zinc deficiency, but the fatty acid composition of these phospholipids was changed. The liver phospholipids of zinc-deficient animals had a decreased proportion of arachidonic acid, but an increased proportion of docosahexaenoic acid. In the zinc-deficient animals there also existed a positive correlation between the fat content in the liver and the ratio between linoleic and arachidonic acid in the liver and a negative correlation between the fat content in the liver and the amount of arachidonic acid in the liver. These correlations as well as the changes in liver fatty acid composition of zinc-deficient animals suggest that the fatty liver might be the result of a disturbed metabolism of linoleic acid. In contrast, zinc deficiency did not influence the fatty acid composition of brain. This means that brain is protected against the effects of short-term zinc deficiency.