QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hsieh, H. S. Articles by Navia, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hsieh, H. S. Articles by Navia, J. M.

Zinc Deficiency and Bone Formation in Guinea Pig Alveolar Implants^1,2,

Institute of Dental Research, and Department of Nutrition Sciences, Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Community and Allied Health, The University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294

Bone formation under zinc deficiency conditions was investigated using alveolar implants in guinea pigs, from which bone formed solely during the period of zinc deficiency could be obtained. Thirty-six guinea pigs (GP) weighing 175–195 g were randomly divided into three groups: group 1 received a -Zn diet, (1.0 ± 0.2 ppm Zn); group 2 pair fed control, and group 3 ad libitum control. After 3 weeks of dietary treatment, the right incisor was extracted and a nylon mesh tube (1.0 cm long) was implanted into the incisor alveolar cavity. Two weeks after implantation, all GP were killed and bone-containing nylon implants (BCNIs) and femurs were removed for Zn, Ca and P analyses. Compared to the two control groups, -Zn group showed two to fourfold less zinc in femurs and in BCNIs, respectively. Femur, but not BCNI, from pair-fed GP had significantly higher zinc concentration than that of GP in group 3. Ca and P concentrations in -Zn BCNI were not significantly reduced, but P in -Zn femur was. When BCNIs were cultured for 48 hours in BGJ medica containing ³⁵SO₄ or ¹⁴C-glucosamine, -Zn BCNIs incorporated significantly more ¹⁴C and slightly higher ³⁵S into their glycosaminoglycan (GAG) fraction. It is concluded that under our standardized conditions zinc deficiency does not show an effect on Ca and P depositions into bone, but it seems to interfere with glycosaminoglycan metabolism of membranous bone.

KEY WORDS: • zinc • bone • guinea pig • sulfate • glucosamine • glycosaminoglycans

¹ This work was supported by NIH-NIDR Grants DE 02670 and DE 05037.

² Presented in part at 57th General Session of IADR; New Orleans, LA, 30 March 1979 (abs. 390).

Manuscript received 19 February 1980.