Effect of Zinc Deficiency and Zinc Replenishment on Testiele and Testosterone in Rats

ObjectiveTo study the effect of zinc deficiency and zinc replenishment on testiele and Testosterone in Rats. Methods SD rats were randomized into zinc-deficient diet (ZD) group, pair-fed (PF) group, zinc normal group (ZN), zinc supplemented (ZS) group and high zinc (HZ) group. ZD group, ZN group, and HZ group were fed up with zinc deficient dietary (content of zinc1 mg/kg), zinc-normal dietary (50 mg/kg) and high zinc dietary (150 mg/kg) for 8 weeks respectively. ZS group were fed with zinc deficient dietary for 3 weeks, then changed to be treated with high-zincdietary for 5 weeks. PF group were fed with zinc normal dietary according to the actual quantity of ZD group at the previous day. All of the rats were killed after 8 weeks. The concentration of Zn in serum were measured with polarography and with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) in testiele. The concentration of testosterone in serum were measured with RIA. Results The concentration of Zn in serum and testiele were decreased significantly owing to zinc deficiency. The testiele of ZD group grew slowly, the testosterone quantity in serum were lowered but changed to nomal after zinc was supplemented. Conclusions Zinc deficiency decreased zinc concentration in serum and testiele, the same time it affected the development of testiele and synthesis of testosterone.