Original Paper

Effects of Zinc on Hepatic Antioxidant Systems and the mRNA Expression Levels Assayed by cDNA Microarrays in Rats
Ming-Yan Jing^a, Jian-Yi Sun^a, Nai-Tao Zi^a, Wei Sun^a, Li-Chun Qian^a, Xiao-Yan Weng<sup>b

a</sup>The Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and
^bCollege of Life Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51:345-351 (DOI: 10.1159/000107677)

  Key Words

• Zinc
• Antioxidants
• Lipid peroxidation
• Gene expression
• Liver
• cDNA microarrays

  Abstract

Background: This study evaluated effects of zinc on the hepatic lipid peroxidation, antioxidant components and mRNA expression levels in rats. Methods: Three diets with different Zn levels including Zn adequacy (ZA; 34.50 mg/kg, control), Zn deficiency (ZD; 3.30 mg/kg), and Zn overdose (ZO; 345.45 mg/kg) were fed to rats for 6 weeks. The mRNA expression levels were analyzed by cDNA microarrays. Results: The body weight of rats fed the ZD diet was less (p < 0.01) than that of rats fed the ZA diet. Zn overdose elevated body weight, but the increase was not detected (p > 0.05) at week 6. Although copper and iron status in serum were declined (p < 0.01), those in liver were not affected (p > 0.05) by the high intake of zinc. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) remained unchanged (p > 0.05) by zinc treatment. Rats fed the ZD diet showed reductions(p < 0.01) in the Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, and increases (p < 0.01) in the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents. Rats fed the ZO diet particularly had higher Cu-Zn SOD (p < 0.01) activity. The mRNA expression levels of SOD were upregulated in the ZO group, and CAT was downregulated in the ZD group, while no changes in GPx mRNA levels were found after zinc treatment. Conclusion: The study suggested that zinc deficiency largely decreased body weight; zinc overdose, however, moderately stimulated growth in the early growing phase of rats. High dietary zinc did not compete with liver copper and iron status. Although Zn deficiency impaired antioxidant functions, zinc overdose hardly enhanced the antioxidant systems of animals.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Jian-Yi Sun
Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition
Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029 (PR China)
Tel. +86 571 8698 6730, Fax +86 571 8699 4963, E-Mail jysun@zju.edu.cn

  Article Information

Received: September 13, 2006
Accepted: February 13, 2007
Published online: August 28, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 6, Number of References : 35