"EFFECT OF ZINC DEFICIENCY ON RAT EPIDIDYMAL MORPHOLOGY

GOMEZ, N; BIAGGIO, V; FERNANDEZ, MR; AGUILERA MERLO C; MOHAMED, F;ZIRULNIK, F; GIMENEZ, MS.

San Luis

Congreso; SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE FARMACOLOGIA (SAFE); 2003

Universidad Nacional de San Luis

ABSTRACT In previous studies we have analyzed the changes in the concentration of different lipids, cholesterol phospholipid ratio and antioxidant defense system such as TBAR`S, protein carbonyls and enzymatic activities after two months of treament undergoing a chronic zinc deficiency. In all cases we obtained differences in the zinc deficiency(ZD) group. This study  aimed at investigating the effect os chronic Zinc deficiency as an essential factor for maintaining the integrity of epidydimal epithelium. Adult Wistar male rats were divided into two groups and fed respectively a moderately Zinc-deficient diet containing 5mg Zn/Kg and a Zn-adequate control diet supplemented with 30 mg Zinc/kg, in agreement with the (AIN 93-M) diet. Pieces of caput and cauda epidydimis were processed for light microscopy. In epidydimal caput; nucleus of principal cells were altered and they were anysocariotic and hypertrophic. The epithelial cells showed vacuoles and infiltration in the perivascular zone as well as in the basal lamina. We conclude that chronic zinc deficiency modifies the lipid composition and defense system and these changes are reflected specially in the cauda epidydimis histology .