title: Pancreatic exocrine damage induced by subcutaneous injection of a low dosage of zinc.
abstract: The aim of this study was to observe whether a low dosage of zinc induced mouse pancreatic injury. Dosages of zinc from 0.1 to 50 mg/kg were injected subcutaneously in mice, and plasma and pancreatic clinical parameters were observed 3-24 h after the injection. Plasma alpha-amylase activity increased 10 and 24 h after the injection of 25 or 50 mg/kg of zinc, whereas pancreatic alpha-amylase activity decreased 3 h after more than 5 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The activity recovered after 24 h except in the group injected with 50 mg/kg of zinc. The plasma glucose level did not change when less than 25 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The pancreatic zinc contents increased 3 h after more than 1 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The pancreatic metallothionein (MT) contents increased 6 h after the injection of 1 mg/kg of zinc. In addition, when more than 5 mg/kg of zinc was injected, the MT content increased at 3 h. In histochemical observations, cell damages such as fibrosis and necrosis were observed in pancreatic exocrine cells, but not in cells of Langerhans islets. From the present study, a single injection of a low dosage of zinc induces injury in pancreatic exocrine cells, but not endocrine cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Living Sciences & Program Processing, Kinki University, Toyo-Oka Junior College, Tobera, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimane
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namikawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D008668:Metallothionein; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D015032:Zinc