Journal of Nutrition

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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 95 No. 4 August 1968, pp. 569-577
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Protein and Nucleic Acid Metabolism in the Testes of Zinc-deficient Rats1

M. P. Macapinlac2,3, W. N. Pearson, G. H. Barney and W. J. Darby

Division of Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tennessee

The levels and synthesis of protein, RNA, and DNA have been studied in the testes of weanling rats fed zinc-deficient diets during the 2 weeks immediately before attainment of sexual maturity. Control rats were fed zinc-sufficient diets ad libitum or were pair-fed to the deficient rats. Levels of testicular protein, DNA, and RNA were studied at 7 and 14 days after initiation of the zinc-free diets. On day 14 of the experiment, the incorporation of 14C-leucine into testicular protein and 14C-adenine into DNA and RNA was also studied. Histological differences were evident in the testes of the zinc-deficient rats on day 14. The zinc content of the testes of rats fed the zinc-deficient diet was always lower than that of the control groups. No gross impairment of DNA synthesis in the testes was noted early in zinc deficiency. The total protein and RNA content of the testes was reduced in zinc-deficient rats but the incorporation of 14C-leucine and 14C-adenine into protein and RNA, respectively, was unaltered. These data suggest that an increase in protein and RNA catabolism occurs in the zinc-deficient testes rather than a decrease in synthesis.

1 This work was supported in part by Public Health Service Training Grant no. TI-AM-5441, and Research Grant no. AM-10090 and AM-08317 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases. Dr. Macapinlac held an International Post-Doctoral Fellowship of the National Institutes of Health during a portion of this study. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Pearson.

2 Taken in part from a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University.

3 Present Address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Philippines Medical School, Manila, Philippines.

Manuscript received 2 February 1968.




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