Zinc metabolism in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Nutr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6326653

Kennedy, M L; Failla, M L

Recent reports indicate that the concentrations and total amounts of several essential trace metals in various tissues of genetically obese rodents differ markedly from those in lean controls. In the present studies the absorption, retention and tissue distribution of zinc and constitutive levels of zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) in selected tissues were compared in obese (ob/ob) and lean (+/.) C57BL/6J mice. When 5-, 10- and 22-wk-old mice were administered 1.2 mumol /sup 65/Zn by stomach tube the apparent absorption of /sup 65/Zn by obese mice was 1.5, 2.2 and 3.9 times higher, respectively, than that in age-matched lean mice. Retention of orally administered /sup 65/Zn after 96 h was also substantially higher in obese mice than in lean mice. To assess the possible influences of hyperphagia and intestinal hypertrophy on the enhanced apparent absorption of /sup 65/Zn by obese mice food intake by an additional group of obese mice was restricted to that of age-matched lean controls. When actual absorption of zinc was determined according to the method of Heth and Hoekstra, groups of ad libitum--fed obese, pair-fed obese and lean mice absorbed 38, 32 and 18% of administered /sup 65/Zn, respectively. In contrast, the rate of /sup 65/Zn excretion 2-6 d after oral or subcutaneous administration of the metal was similar for obese and lean mice. Unrestricted and pair-fed obese mice had significantly lower percentages of carcass /sup 65/Zn present in skin, muscle plus bone, spleen and testes and higher percentages present in liver, small intestine and adipose tissue than lean mice.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 6326653
• Journal Information: J. Nutr.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Nutr.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN JONUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ADIPOSE TISSUE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
METALS
MICE
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TISSUES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
ZINC
ZINC 65
ZINC ISOTOPES