Zinc deficiency affects the composition of the rat adrenal gland

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-182-42351· OSTI ID:5457020

Rothman, R J; Leure-DuPree, A E; Fosmire, G J

The response of the adrenal gland to zinc deficiency was examined in male weanling rats. In comparison with decapsulated adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, glands from zinc deficient rats had greater relative weight (mg/g body wt), DNA concentration, and total lipid and cholesterol concentrations as well as a smaller protein/DNA ratio. Several of these differences (protein/DNA and cholesterol concentration) could be attributed to the inanition accompanying zinc deficient values were similar to those of pair fed controls. Values for total DNA and protein concentration were similar for all groups. Electron micrographs of the zona fasciculata showed a small number of lipid droplets in the adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, an increase in lipid droplets from pair fed controls, and an even more striking increase in lipid droplets from the zinc deficient adrenals. The increased adrenal lipid composition in the zinc deficient group may be secondary to enhanced steroidogenesis or a zinc deficiency-induced defect of lipid metabolism.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• OSTI ID: 5457020
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States), Vol. 182:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL GLANDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ZINC
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
CHOLESTEROL
DNA
LIPIDS
METABOLISM
PROTEINS
QUANTITY RATIO
RATS
WEIGHT
ANIMALS
BODY
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METALS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RODENTS
STEROIDS
STEROLS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)