The Effect of Zinc Deficiency and Supplementation on Elements in the Kidney Tissue of Ovariectomized Rats: Histopathologic Changes

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to determine the effects of zinc defi ciency in and zinc supplementation to ovariectomized rats on some elements in kidney tissue. The study included 40 Sprague-Dawley type adult female rats. The experimental animals were randomized into four groups with equal numbers as follows: Group 1: Control (10). Group 2: Ovariectomized control (10). Group 3: Ovariectomized + zinc supplemented (10). Group 4: Ovariectomized + zinc defi cient (10). After the animals were decapitated at the end of the experiment, element levels were determined by Atomic Emission (ICP-AES) as mg/g/wet tissue for calcium, phosphate, zinc, aluminum, copper, iron, lithium, and manganese and μg/g/wet tissue for magnesium in the kidney tissue. Additionally, the tissue samples were subjected to a histopathologic assessment. An examination of the study results showed that ovariectomy signifi cantly reduced calcium, phosphorus, and zinc levels, while zinc supplementation to the rats following ovariectomy restored the reduced element levels to normal (0.10 ± 0.03, 0.85 ± 0.16, 0.11 ± 0.03 vs 0.19 ± 0.06, 1.86 ± 0.18, 0.52 ± 0.05). Group 4, which was both ovariectomized and fed on a zinc-defi cient diet, had signifi cantly lower aluminum, copper, and lithium values. Calcifi cation, infl ammation, and sclerotic changes in group 4, the group which was fed on a zinc-defi cient diet, were greater in comparison to other groups (p < 0.05). Results of the study suggest that ovariectomy + zinc defi ciency leads to calcifi cation, infl ammation, and sclerotic changes in renal tissue and signifi cantly reduces element levels, whereas zinc supplementation after ovariectomy restores the lowered element levels to normal.