title: Zinc deficiency worsens ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
abstract: The effects of zinc deficiency on ethanol-induced ulcers were studied. Rats fed with zinc-deficient diets for 5 weeks showed markedly lowered serum zinc levels and body weights. Ethanol 30% given orally produced gastric mucosal lesions and reduced the glutathione content in the gastric glandular mucosa in their pair-fed non-zinc-deficient controls. Zinc deficiency potentiated the glutathione-depleting and ulcer-producing effects of ethanol. N-acetylcysteine, a sulfhydryl-containing agent, protected non-zinc-deficient rats from lesions produced by 50% ethanol, whereas N-ethylmaleimide, a sulfhydryl-blocking agent, worsened ulceration. It appears that zinc deficiency intensifies ethanol-induced ulceration by permitting greater depletion of the glutathione content in the stomach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ogle
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013270:Stomach / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D005978:Glutathione; D015032:Zinc; D005033:Ethylmaleimide; D000111:Acetylcysteine