Effect of maternal zinc supply on blood and tissue metallothionein I concentrations in suckling rats.
Changes in metallothionein I (MT-I) levels were measured in blood and tissues of rat pups from dams given diets containing 6, 9 or 40 mg zinc/kg from wk 1 or gestation and throughout lactation. After 1, 2 and 3 wk of lactation, litters from each group were killed and tissues analyzed for MT-I. The relatively mild degree of zinc deficiency, which had no effect on fetal viability or litter size and caused only slightly lower pup weight, caused significantly lower MT-I concentrations in pup liver, thymus, plasma and red cells, particularly in pups from dams receiving 6 mg zinc/kg. Maternal zinc supply is therefore a major determinant of MT-I concentrations in neonatal tissues, and assay of this protein in blood plasma and red cells may give a useful indication of zinc status.
Morrison
J N
JN
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Bremner
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*
D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc