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Dietary zinc and parturition in the rat

II. Myometrial gap junctions

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Abstract

The number and appearance of uterine myometrial gap junctions in spontaneously delivering rats was evaluated as a function of dietary zinc. Based on quantitative electron microscopy, the number of gap junctions detected in the tissue from zinc-deficient rats was only 49 or 39% ofad-libitum-fed controls, dependent on the basis of comparison (per cell or per 1000 μm membrane). Moderate food restriction (pair-feeding to the voluntary intake of the zinc-deficient rats) reduced the number to 70% of thead-libitum-fed control. The results are interpreted as contributory to the irregular and poorly synchronized uterine pressure cycle patterns previously detected in zinc-deficient female rats and may indicate poor compliance to estrogen-controlled gene expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

    Daniel P. Dylewski, Fiona D. C. Lytton & G. E. Bunce

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  1. Daniel P. Dylewski
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  2. Fiona D. C. Lytton
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  3. G. E. Bunce
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Dylewski, D.P., Lytton, F.D.C. & Bunce, G.E. Dietary zinc and parturition in the rat. Biol Trace Elem Res 9, 165–175 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02916524

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02916524

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