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Zinc and Neurobiology

  • Chapter
Biochemistry of Zinc

Part of the book series: Biochemistry of the Elements ((BOTE,volume 11))

Abstract

Zinc deficiency is known to affect the development of many derivatives of the primitive neural tube. Defects such as agenesis and dysmorphogenesis of the brain, spinal cord, eyes, and olfactory tract have been reported in the offsprings of zinc-deficient female rats (Hurley and Shrader, 1972). Hydrocephalus caused by closure of the aqueducts of Sylvius has also been noted as a result of zinc deficiency (Hurley, 1974). In general, the pattern of early brain malformations appears to be consistent with impaired mitosis during embryonic development and the involvement of zinc in DNA synthesis and cell division offers a plausible explanation of these observations (see Figs. 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3). It has also been suggested that the developing brain is more sensitive to zinc deficiency with respect to cell division than other organs (Eckert and Hurley, 1977).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA

    Ananda S. Prasad

  2. Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Ananda S. Prasad

  3. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Allen Park, Michigan, USA

    Ananda S. Prasad

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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Prasad, A.S. (1993). Zinc and Neurobiology. In: Biochemistry of Zinc. Biochemistry of the Elements, vol 11. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9444-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9444-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9446-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9444-1

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