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Tracing of Zinc Nanocrystals in the Anterior Pituitary of Zinc-Deficient Wistar Rats

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to trace zinc nanocrystals in the anterior pituitary of zinc-deficient Wistar rats by using autometallographic technique. Male Wistar rats (30–40 days of age, pre-pubertal period) of 40–50 g body weight were divided into the following: the ZC (zinc control) group—fed with 100 ppm zinc in diet, the ZD (zinc-deficient) group—fed with zinc-deficient (1.00 ppm) diet and the PF (pair-fed) group—received 100 ppm zinc in diet. The experiments were set for 2 and 4 weeks. Pituitary was removed and processed for the autometallographic technique. The control and pair-fed groups retained their normal morphological features. However, male Wistar rats fed on zinc-deficient diet for 2 and 4 weeks displayed a wide range of symptoms such as significant (P < 0.05) decrease in diet consumption, body weight and pituitary weight and decrease in gradation of intensity of zinc nanocrystals in the nuclei. The present findings suggest that the dietary zinc deficiency causes decreased intensity of zinc nanocrystals localization and their distribution in the pituitary thereby contributing to the dysfunction of the pituitary of the male Wistar rats. The severity of zinc deficiency symptoms progressed after the second week of the experiment. Decreased intensity of zinc nanocrystals attenuates the pituitary function which would exert its affect on other endocrine organs impairing their functions indicating that the metabolic regulation of pituitary is mediated to a certain extent by zinc and/or hypothalamus-hypophysial system which also reflects its essentiality during the period of growth.

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Acknowledgments

The author (Anjana Kuldeeep) would like to thank the reviewers for their helpful review of this manuscript.

This experimental work has been supported by Professor B.K. Shrivastav, Director USIC Facility, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and Mohanaseen Reza for the co-operation in USIC-Electron Microscope Facility, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. I would like to thank to the Central Laboratory Facility-Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS), Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, for providing the necessary facilities. This study was funded by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India, for awarding me Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship to pursue this research.

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  1. Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302055, India

    Anjana Kuldeep, Neena Nair & Ranveer Singh Bedwal

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  1. Anjana Kuldeep
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  2. Neena Nair
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  3. Ranveer Singh Bedwal
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Correspondence to Anjana Kuldeep.

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Kuldeep, A., Nair, N. & Bedwal, R.S. Tracing of Zinc Nanocrystals in the Anterior Pituitary of Zinc-Deficient Wistar Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 177, 316–322 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0881-2

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