title: [Effect of zinc on thymulin level in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to investigate the roles of the different levels of zinc nutrition status on the thymulin of the mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment included two periods: zinc depleted period and repletion period. In the depleted period, mice were divided into 3 dose groups: zinc deficient group (ZD, 5.2 mg/kg), zinc pair-fed group (PZ) and normal zinc group(NZ,25.6 mg/kg). In the repletion period, mice were divided into 3 dose groups: ZD group, DZ-NZ group and PZ-NZ group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that a signification decrease of thymulin level was observed as a result of zinc deficiency and was increased rapidly follow zinc supplement, while the plasma zinc was kept the same level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thymulin is a sensitive biomarker for assess the zinc status.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating; D015032:Zinc