The effects of early zinc deficiency on DNA and protein synthesis in the rat

Abstract

1. The effects of early zinc deficiency on DNA and protein metabolism of the liver, kidneys, testes and spleen of the young rat were studied. The investigations were carried out in two phases: before food consumption and growth were affected, and afterwards. 2. The incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into DNA was markedly affected by differences of less than a week in the age of the rats. 3. Zn deficiency significantly reduced the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into DNA of liver, kidneys and spleen before growth and food consumption were affected. The degree of inhibition was of the order of 50% in the first 5 d. A similar but non-significant trend was observed for the testes. 4. The incorporation of [ 3 C]lysine into protein was not significantly affected in liver and testes during the initial period of Zn deficiency; the incorporation into kidneys and spleen was significantly inhibited but the magnitude of the effect was only of the order of 20% in 5d. 5. One week after the start of the second phase, the concentration of DNA in liver, testes, and spleen of Zn-deficient animals was not significantly different from that in pair-fed controls. The DNA content of the kidneys was significantly reduced by the deficiency hut only to 97% of that in pair-fed animalsgiven the Zn-supplcmenteddiet. The incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into DNA was not significantly different between deficient and control groups in any of the four organs investigated.