Studies on zinc deficiency: changes in trace elements and enzyme activities in tissues of zinc-deficient rats.

Zinc content of testes, bones, esophagus, kidneys, and muscles was decreased, whereas iron content was increased in the testes of zinc-deficient rats compared to restrictedly fed control rats. Histochemical enzyme determinations revealed reduced activities of certain enzymes in the testes, bones, esophagus, and kidneys. In the testes, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), malic dehydrogenase (MDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and NADH diaphorase; in the bones, LDH, MDH, ADH, and alkaline phosphatase; in the esophagus, MDH, ADH, and NADH diaphorase; and in the kidneys, MDH and alkaline phosphatase were decreased in zinc-deficient rats compared to restrictedly fed controls. Succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) revealed no significant changes under the conditions of our experiments in various groups of rats that were investigated. In a "repleted" group of rats, content of zinc in testes and bones increased significantly, compared to the deficient group. The iron content of the testes decreased after repletion with zinc. In the testes, bones, esophagus, and kidneys, the activities of various enzymes increased after repletion with zinc. Inasmuch as the major manifestations of zinc deficiency syndrome in the rat include growth retardation, testicular atrophy, and esophageal parakeratosis, our results suggest that the content of zinc in the above tissues most likely controls the physiological processes through the formation of zinc-dependent enzymes.