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Characteristics of Zn Content and Localization, Cu–Zn SOD, and MT Levels in the Tissues of Marginally Zn-Deficient Mice

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Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an important trace element in the human body, and Zn deficiency affects the Zn content of major tissues. Marginal Zn deficiency is more common than severe Zn deficiency in humans. The objective of the present study was to compare the content and distribution of Zn and the change in the copper (Cu)–Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and metallothionein (MT) levels of soft tissues. Mice were fed with 30 mg/kg (control) or 10 mg/kg (marginally Zn-deficient, MZD) Zn diet for 35 days. We observed that only the Zn contents of serum, bones, and muscles in the control group were higher than those in the MZD group. Autometallography (AMG) was used as a method for staining Zn ions, and the semi-quantitative result indicated that the AMG products of the liver, duodenum, heart, lung, testes, and epididymis in the control group were higher than those in the MZD group. Furthermore, the contents of MT and the activities of Cu–Zn SOD in the testes, brain, duodenum, and liver were higher in the control group than those in the MZD group. However, the AMG products and the activities of Cu–Zn SOD of the kidney in the MZD group were more/higher than those in the control group. These results indicated that a change in the total Zn content of soft tissues may be not obvious and insensitive, and thus, more attention should be given to the distribution and localization of Zn ions. The functional indicators, MT and Cu–Zn SOD, are suitable biomarkers for evaluating zinc nutritional status. The brain, testes, duodenum, and liver are susceptive organs to Zn deficiency.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to all members of Professor Wang CH’s lab at the School of Public Health, Wuhan University for their generous help. We would like to thank the animal facilities of Wuhan University Animal Experiment Center for the maintenance of the mouse population.

Funding

This study was supported by grants from Angel Nutritech Nutrition Fund (Grant NO. AF2019004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People’s Republic of China

    Ziqiong Wang, Cheng Peng, Yuting Zhang, Lei Wang, Lu Yu & Chunhong Wang

  2. Hubei Biomass-Resource Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology Key Laboratory, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan, China

    Chunhong Wang

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  1. Ziqiong Wang
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  2. Cheng Peng
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  3. Yuting Zhang
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Correspondence to Chunhong Wang.

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Wang, Z., Peng, C., Zhang, Y. et al. Characteristics of Zn Content and Localization, Cu–Zn SOD, and MT Levels in the Tissues of Marginally Zn-Deficient Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 262–271 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03119-4

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