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BALB/c mice provide a unique model for the study of zinc deficiency in the absence of weight loss and stress
Author(s) -
Silvestre Justin,
Regenhardt Robert W,
HerrlingerGarcia Kelli A,
Cousins Robert J,
LangkampHenken Bobbi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a170-d
Subject(s) - zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , medicine , endocrinology , zinc , metallothionein , chemistry , organic chemistry
Zinc deficiency (ZD) is typically associated with wt loss, diarrhea, and parakeratosis. A previous study from this lab using BALB/c mice showed no wt loss or outward signs of ZD with a 9‐wk ZD diet. To further characterize this model we compared 4‐wk‐old BALB/c and CD‐1 male mice (n=10/strain) fed a zinc adequate (ZA, 27 mg/kg) or ZD (<1 mg/kg) diet for 9 wk. All mice gained wt and none exhibited clinical signs of deficiency. No differences in wt or food intake were observed between ZA and ZD within strains. Serum zinc was 39% and 23% lower in ZD than ZA in BALB/c and CD‐1, respectively (P ≤0.05). Serum corticosterone was not different in BALB/c, but was higher in ZD than ZA CD‐1 (209±33 vs 55±2 ng/ml, mean±SEM, P<0.05). In ZD, colon relative metallothionein (MT) mRNA levels were lower in BALB/c (0.60±0.02 vs 1.34±0.34, ZD vs ZA) and higher in CD‐1 (0.66±0.14 vs 0.17±0.06). When ZD BALB/c were challenged with LPS, colon MT mRNA increased 5.8‐fold vs unchallenged (PBS). iNOS mRNA from ZD BALB/c LPS increased 23‐fold vs PBS and was higher than ZA‐LPS (ZD‐LPS: 0.85±0.08 vs ZA‐LPS: 0.50±0.04, P=0.02). Serum zinc decreased in both strains, but there were no outward signs of ZD. In ZD the stress hormone corticosterone was unchanged and mRNA for the acute phase protein MT was lower in BALB/c, whereas both were increased in CD‐1. With inflammatory challenge, ZD in BALB/c mice showed increased MT and potentiated iNOS responses typical of ZD.