Journal of Nutrition

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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 112 No. 3 March 1982, pp. 542-551
Copyright © 1982 by American Society for Nutrition
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Mild Zinc Deficiency and Undernutrition During the Prenatal and Postnatal Periods in Rats: Effects on Weight, Food Consumption, and Brain Catecholamine Concentrations

E. S. Halas, J. C. Wallwork and H. H. Sandstead

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center and Department of Psychology University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 58202

Rat dams were fed a 20% sprayed egg white diet, containing 10 ppm zinc, during gestation and lactation (ZD) and compared to zinc-adequate pair-fed (PF) and ad libitum fed (AL) control animals. AL dams consumed more food than the ZD group. Throughout gestation AL dams were heavier than PF and ZD dams. During lactation AL dams were heavier than the ZD dams which in turn were heavier than PF dams. Birth weights of ZD pups were less than the PF and AL pups. Postnatal daily weight gains of ZD pups were less than the PF pups which were less than AL pups. After weaning ZD pups fed commercial rat food gained less weight than PF and AL pups, and weight gain of PF and AL pups was similar. ZD dams had lower plasma zinc than control dams at parturition and at the end of lactation. Femur zinc of ZD, PF and AL dams was similar at parturition. ZD dams had lower femur zinc than PF and AL dams after lactation. Femur and liver zinc of ZD pups was lower than in PF and AL pups at birth. Regional brain catecholamine levels were not measured, but whole brain concentrations of catecholamines were not different among the groups. Thus, while mild zinc deficiency adversely affected growth of pups, effects on brain remain to be identified.

KEY WORDS: • zinc deficiency • food intake • weight change • brain catecholamines

Manuscript received 13 July 1981.




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