Study on zinc deficiency and high ammonia

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Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 235: E203-E206, 1978;

0193-1849/78 $5.00

This Article

PubMed Citation

Articles by Rabbani, P

Articles by Prasad, A.

AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 235, Issue 2, E203-E206

Copyright © 1978 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Plasma ammonia and liver ornithine transcarbamoylase activity in zinc-

deficient rats

P Rabbani and AS Prasad

The effects of zinc deficiency on the activity of hepatic ornithine

carbamoyltransferase (OCT) and plasma ammonia were studied in rats.

One group received (ad libitum) zinc-deficient diet containing 2 ppm

zinc and the other group received a diet containing 110 ppm zinc

(group pair-fed control) equal to the amount consumed by zinc-

deficient rats during the previous 24 h. Rats were killed at weekly

intervals. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma ammonia, and hepatic OCT

activity were determined. By end of the 1st wk on zinc-deficient

diet, the plasma ammonia levels became significantly higher than

those of the controls and remained elevated thoughout the study

period. BUN increased initially for 2 wk in the deficient rats, but

by the end of 4 wk the levels were lower than in the controls. The

hepatic OCT activity in deficient animals was significantly lowered

as compared to the controls by the 3rd wk. It is concluded that an

increase in plasma ammonia may occur as a result of deficiency of

zinc. "

Pam