Effect of zinc deficiency on zinc and carbohydrate metabolism in genetically diabetic (C57BL KsJ db+ db+)‎ and original strain (C57BL KsJ)‎ mice

Abstract FRE

Male.

4 -5 week-old, genetically diabetic (C57B/LKsJdb+/db+) and non-diabetic original strain (C57BL/KsJ) mice were fed on a diet containing 1 mg Zn/kg (low-Zn groups) or 54 mg Zn/kg (control groups) for-27 days.

Food intakes and body weight gain were recorded regularly.

On day 28, after an overnight fast, animals were killed and blood glucose and insulin concentration, glycogen, and femur and pancreatic Zn concentration were determined.

The consumption of the low-Zn diet had only minimal effect on the Zn status of the diabetic mice as indicated by growth rate, food intake and femur and pancreatic Zn concentration.

In fact, diabetic mice fed on the low-Zn diet had a higher total food intake than those fed on the control diet.

The low-Zn diabetic mice had also higher fasting blood glucose and liver glycogen levels than their control counterparts.

However the growth rate and femur zinc concentration of the original strain mice were affected by low-Zn diet.

The present study demonstrates an adverse effect of reduced dietary Zn intake on glucose utilization in the genetically diabetic mice, which occurred before any significant tissue Zn depletion became apparent and it was also showed that the original strain of mice was more susceptible to the low-Zn diet than the diabetic mice.