The effect of zinc deficiency and diet restriction on gene expression of hypoxia‐inducible factors in rat's kidney

We reported that plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration, kidney EPO concentration and kidney EPO mRNA level were changed by moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction. It is not established how moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction induces these alterations. We investigated whether moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction affects renal hypoxia‐inducible factor genes expression in rats. Thirty 3‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were assigned into 3 dietary groups (n=10 each) and fed on dietary regimens for 4 weeks: control group (AIN‐93G; Control), moderate zinc‐deficient group (4.5 mg Zn/kg) and pair‐fed group (AIN‐93G; diet restriction). Kidney was separated into cortex and medulla for RNA isolation. Quantitative real time‐PCR using TaqMan proves was performed for mRNA measurement of hypoxia‐inducible factor (Hif) genes (Hif‐1a, Hif‐1an and Hif‐3a). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and PLSD with separate variance approach (when normality was satisfied) or the Kruskal‐Wallis and Conover‐Iman tests (when normality was not satisfied). P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Kidney medulla mRNA expressions per organ weight of Hif‐1a and Hif‐1an were significantly decreased by zinc deficiency or diet restriction compared with Control. Kidney medulla Hif‐3a and cortex Hif‐1a, Hif‐1an and Hif‐3a mRNA expressions per organ weight were not significantly different among all groups. These results suggest that kidney hypoxia‐inducible factor gene expressions are decreased by zinc deficiency and diet restriction. Support or Funding Information This work was supported by KAKENHI grant‐in‐aid for Young Scientists (B) (23700928) and (15K16216). This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .