Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T02:26:05.392Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies of zinc metabolism in pregnant and lactating rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Susan J. Fairweather-Tait ,
A. J. A. Wright ,
Jacqui Cooke  and
J. Franklin
Susan J. Fairweather-Tait
Affiliation:
AFRC Food Research Institute, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UA
A. J. A. Wright
Affiliation:
AFRC Food Research Institute, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UA
Jacqui Cooke
Affiliation:
AFRC Food Research Institute, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UA
J. Franklin
Affiliation:
AFRC Food Research Institute, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. The metabolism of 65Zn administered intramuscularly (Expt 1) or enterally (Expt 2) at the beginning of pregnancy in rats given a control or marginal-Zn diet was measured. In Expt 2 a comparison was also made between pregnant and non-pregnant rats. The loss of 65Zn (assumed to represent labile body Zn) was markedly reduced in animals fed on a marginal-Zn diet compared with controls, and this effect occurred very rapidly, i.e. within 48 h of introducing the marginal-Zn diet. Pregnancy itself had a much less important effect on 65Zn turnover than diet. Transfer of 65Zn to the litter was significantly greater in the animals fed on a marginal-Zn diet compared with controls but total Zn transfer was reduced.

2. The effect of length of time on a marginal-Zn diet on fetal growth and composition was examined. Compared with controls, fetal weight was significantly greater in litters from mothers fed on a marginal-Zn diet during the last 4, 7 or 14 d of pregnancy, but no different in litters from mothers fed on a marginal-Zn diet throughout pregnancy. There were no differences in the proportions of protein or fat in the fetuses from mothers fed on the control or marginal-Zn diets but the Zn concentration was lower in litters from mothers fed on a marginal-Zn diet during part or ail of the pregnancy when compared with controls.

3. The transfer of 65Zn from mothers to litters during birth and the first 3 d of lactation was measured. There were no differences in maternal or litter 65Zn just before or just after birth, but within 72 h maternal 65Zn had significantly decreased and litter 65Zn increased. Increases in litter size were associated with greater total litter 65Zn but reduced individual fetal 65Zn.

4. These experiments demonstrate the importance of an adequate daily supply of Zn during pregnancy. Although there is room for adaptation to a marginal-Zn intake (by reducing Zn excretion) the maintenance of Zn homeostasis is only possible in the absence of other forms of stress, such as pregnancy, to the body. The consequence of insufficient Zn at times of rapid fetal growth on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism warrants further investigation.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 54 , Issue 2 , September 1985 , pp. 401 - 413
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1985

References

REFERENCES

Alvey, N. G., Banfield, C. F., Baxter, R. I., Gower, J. C., Krzanowski, W. J., Lane, P. W., Leech, P. W., Nelder, J. A., Payne, R. W., Phelps, K. M., Rogers, C. E., Ross, G. J. S., Simpson, H. R., Todd, A. D., Tunnicliffe-Wilson, G., Wedderburn, R. W. M., White, R. P. & Wilkinson, G. N. (1977). The GENSTAT Manual. Oxford: Rothamstead Experimental Station, Numerical Algorithms Group Ltd.Google Scholar
Apgar, J. (1975). Journal of Nutrition 105, 1553–1561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, E. D., Chan, W. & Smith, J. C. Jr. (1978). Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 157, 211–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cerklewski, F. L. (1982). Nutrition Reports International 26, 141–145.Google Scholar
Cousins, R. J. & Failla, M. (1983). Zinc in the Environment, part 2, Health Effects, pp. 121–135. New York: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Davies, N. T. & Williams, R. B. (1977). British Journal of Nutrition 38, 417–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, G. W., Grace, C. I. & Hahn, C. (1973). Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 143, 723–725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fairweather-Tait, S. J. & Wright, A. J. A. (1984). British Journal of Nutrition 51, 185–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fairweather-Tait, S. J., Wright, A. J. A. & Williams, C. M. (1984). British Journal of Nutrition 52, 205–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fosmire, G. J., Greeley, S. & Sandstead, H. H. (1977). Journal of Nutrition 107, 1543–1550.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeland-Graves, J. H., Ebangit, M. L. & Hendrikson, P. J. (1980). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33, 1757–1766.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golub, M. S., Gershwin, M. E., Hurley, L. S., Baly, D. L. & Hendricks, A. G. (1984). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 39, 879–887.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hsu, J. M., Duckett, G. E., Hsieh, H. S. & Root, A. W. (1980). Federation Proceedings 39, 430.Google Scholar
Hurley, L. S. (1981). Physiological Reviews 61, 249–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirksey, A., Ernst, J. A., Roepke, J. L. & Tsai, T.-L. (1979). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 32, 30–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKenzie, J. M., Fosmire, G. J. & Sandstead, H. H. (1975). Journal of Nutrition 105, 1466–1475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMichael, A. J., Dreosti, I. E., Gibson, G. T., Hartshorne, J. M., Buckley, P. A. & Colley, D. P. (1982). Early Human Development 7, 59–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metcoff, J., Costiloe, J. P., Crosby, W., Bentle, L., Seshachalam, D., Sandstead, H. H., Bodwell, C. E., Weaver, F. & McClain, P. (1981). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 34, 708–721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Methfessel, A. H. & Spencer, H. (1973). Journal of Applied Physiology 34, 63–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moser, P. B. & Reynolds, R. D. (1983). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 38, 101–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ounsted, M. & Ounsted, C. (1973). Clinics in Developmental Medicine, no. 46, pp. 9–11. London: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Prema, K. (1981). Indian Journal of Medical Research 71, 534–560.Google Scholar
Quaterman, J. & Florence, E. (1972). British Journal of Nutrition 28, 75–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, D. A. (1934). Biochemical Journal 28, 1592–1602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swanson, C. A., Turnland, J. R. & King, J. C. (1983). Journal of Nutrition 113, 2557–2567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vohr, B. R., Lipsitt, L. P. & Oh, W. (1980). Journal of Pediatrics 97, 196–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vuori, E., Makinen, S. M., Kara, R. & Kuitunen, P. (1980). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33, 227–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weigand, E. & Kirchgessner, M. (1980). Journal of Nutrition 110, 469–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, C. M. (1978). Adipose tissue metabolism in normal human pregnancy. PhD Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Williams, R. B., Davies, N. T. & McDonald, I. (1977). British Journal of Nutrition 38, 407–416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar