title: Changes in chicken intestinal zinc exporter mRNA expression and small intestinal functionality following intra-amniotic zinc-methionine administration.
abstract: A 303-bp cDNA of intestinal zinc exporter (ZnT1) was isolated from chicken jejunum by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequenced, and showed 42% homology to Homo sapiens and Rattus novergicus intestinal ZnT1 genes. This specific probe was used to examine the effect of zinc-methionine (ZnMet) administration on the mRNA expression of ZnT1 and on small intestinal development and functionality. In this study, ZnMet was injected into the naturally consumed amniotic fluid of 17-day-old chicken embryos. The ZnT1 gene showed an approximately 200% increase in its mRNA levels from 48 h post-ZnMet injection, as compared to the control. An analysis of the gene expression of the brush-border enzymes and transporters showed increased mRNA expression of sucrase isomaltase, leucine-aminopeptidase, sodium-glucose cotransporter and Na+K+ATPase transporter (Na+K+ATPase) from 48 h post-ZnMet injection, in comparison to controls. Significant increases (P<.05) in the biochemical activity of the brush-border enzymes and transporters, and in jejunal villus surface area were detected from day of hatch (96 h post-ZnMet injection) as compared to controls. These results suggest that ZnMet administration into prenatal intestine via injection into the amniotic fluid enhances intestinal development and improves its functionality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, The Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tako
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ferket
authors.forename: Zehava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Uni
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000650:Amnion; D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007267:Injections; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008871:Microvilli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C092392:Slc30a1 protein, rat; C074508:zinc methionine; D008715:Methionine; D015032:Zinc