Effects of zinc-deficient diets on the cardiovascular system in rabbits

Journal Article · Wed Mar 05 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6829236

Carter, J W; Koo, S I

The authors used male New Zealand white rabbits to study the effects of zinc-deficient diets on the cardiovascular system. These 10 week-old rabbits were fed semi-purified diets containing either 50 ppm or less than 1 ppm zinc for 12 weeks. Serum samples were analyzed at 3,6,9 and 12 weeks. Body weight and food consumption were measured weekly. At necropsy the liver and heart were removed and weighed. Then the heart was perfused at 100 mm Hg with 10% buffered formalin via the ascending aorta. Coronary arteries were block-dissected and processed for light microscopy. Food consumption and body weights were not significantly altered throughout the study. Relative heart weights were not different; however, the relative liver weight of the zinc-deficient group was elevated by 11%. Neither total serum cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol were changed at any time. After 6 weeks treatment, serum zinc levels were depressed by 29% in the zinc-deficient group; no changes were observed for serum copper or calcium. Morphometric analysis of coronary arteries revealed a decreased combined thickness of the tunica intima and tunica media and a decreased area per unit length in the left coronary circumflex arteries of zinc-deficient rabbits. Significant changes reported here are probably related to possible alterations in lipoproteins metabolism and will be investigated in future studies.

• Research Organization: Oral Roberts Univ., Tulsa, OK
• OSTI ID: 6829236
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:4; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ARTERIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHOLESTEROL
CORONARIES
DIET
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
HEART
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIVER
MAMMALS
METALS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERFUSED ORGANS
RABBITS
STEROIDS
STEROLS
VERTEBRATES
ZINC