Uptake and retention of 65Zn in lithium-treated rat liver: role of zinc.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of zinc on the biokinetics of (65)Zn in rat and its distribution in various organs and in subcellular compartment following lithium therapy.


METHODS
Female wistar rats received either lithium treatment at a dose of 1.1g/kg in diet, zinc alone at a dose of 227 mg/L in drinking water, and combined lithium plus zinc for duration of four months.


RESULTS
After four months of lithium treatment, liver enzymes increased significantly (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, +66.73%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase, +63.70%; alkaline phosphatase, +40.28%; p< or =0.001); zinc supplementation to lithium-treated rats significantly reduced liver enzymes (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, -13.11%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase, -21.78%; alkaline phosphatase, -11.77%; p< or =0.001). The biological half-lives of (65)Zn showed an initial fast component (Tb(1)) and a slower component (Tb(2)). A significant increase in Tb(2) (38.82%, p< or =0.001) in liver was observed following lithium treatment, which significantly decreased following zinc treatment (21.71%, p< or =0.001). A significant decrease in the uptake of (65)Zn (53.93%, p< or =0.01) in liver was observed and in nuclear (p< or =0.01), mitochondrial (p< or =0.01), and microsomal (52.67%, p< or =0.001) fractions. A significant increase in the uptake of (65)Zn (82.92%, p< or =0.05) in liver microsomal fraction (34.09%, p< or =0.001) was observed in lithium-treated rats receiving zinc supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that zinc has the potential to regulate the biokinetics of (65)Zn and its subcellular distribution in rat liver following lithium therapy.
Chadha
Vijayta D
VD
Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India.
Bhalla
Punita
P
Dhawan
Devinder
D
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015037:Zinc Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D015037:Zinc Radioisotopes; D008094:Lithium; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc