Effect of excess dietary histidine on rate of turnover of 65Zn in brain of rat.

The effect of the chronic administration of histidine on the brain zinc level was examined in growing, male Wistar rats. Using a purified diet, the minimum zinc requirement for normal growth and normal plasma and tissue zinc levels was found to be around 10 ppm. Given this zinc content, the diet was supplemented with 5% and 8% histidine, respectively, or with 10% glycine (as control). Brain zinc was analyzed by measuring the rate of turnover of 65Zn from 2-4 weeks after a single injection of the tracer. Feeding the diet supplemented with 5% histidine caused a small decrease in the plasma zinc concentration and a slight increase in the rate of turnover of 65Zn in the cerebrum and the cerebellum as compared to the control group. The animals fed the diet supplemented with 8% histidine became severely zinc deficient (as evidenced by a 50% reduction in the plasma zinc content), however, the rate of turnover of 65Zn in all brain regions examined was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. The results indicate that histidine has no specific complexing action on the brain zinc.