The effect of zinc supplementation on ghrelin-immunoreactive cells and lipid parameters in gastrointestinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced female diabetic rats

Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Jun;286(1-2):77-85. doi: 10.1007/s11010-005-9095-1. Epub 2006 Feb 15.

Abstract

Zinc is an essential nutrient with a wide range of functions and closely involved in a variety of enzymatic processes of importance in glucose, protein and lipid metabolism. Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the G protein coupled growth hormone secretagogue receptor. The regulatory mechanism that explain the biosynthesis and secretion of ghrelin in the gastrointestinal tract has not been clarified. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, which exhibits ghrelin production and secretion, and lipid metabolism on the gastrointestinal tract. The animals were divided into four groups. Group I: Non-diabetic untreated animals. Group II: Zinc-treated non-diabetic rats. Group III: STZ-induced diabetic untreated animals. Group IV: Zinc-treated diabetic animals. Zinc sulfate was given to some of the experimental animals by gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 60 days. In the zinc-treated diabetic group, the blood glucose levels decreased and body weight increased as compared to the diabetic untreated group. Zinc supplementation to STZ-diabetic rats revealed the protective effect of zinc on lipids parameters such as total lipid, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index. There is no statistically change in ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in gastrointestinal tissue. But, it has found that zinc supplementation caused a significant reduction in densities of ghrelin-producing cells of fundic mucosa of zinc-treated diabetic animals as compared to untreated, non-diabetic controls. Zinc supplementation may contribute to prevent some complications of diabetic rats, biochemically.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / physiopathology
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / cytology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism
  • Ghrelin
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Lipids / blood
  • Peptide Hormones / analysis
  • Peptide Hormones / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Zinc / administration & dosage
  • Zinc / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Ghrelin
  • Lipids
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Cholesterol
  • Zinc