65Zn uptake from blood into brain in the rat

Zinc is essential for the normal development and function of the CNS, although little is known about brain zinc homeostasis. Therefore, in this investigation we have studied 65Zn uptake by brain from blood and have measured the blood-brain barrier permeability to 65Zn in the anaesthetised rat in vivo. Adult male Wistar rats within the weight range 500-600 g were used. 65ZnCl2 and 125I-albumin, the latter serving as a vascular marker, were injected intravenously in a bolus of normal saline. Sequential arterial blood samples were taken during experiments that lasted between 5 min and 5 h, after which the whole brain was removed, dissected, and analysed for radioisotope activity. Data have been analysed by graphical analysis, which suggests that after 30 min of circulation, 65Zn uptake by brain from blood is unidirectional with an influx rate constant, Kin, of approximately 5 X 10(-4) ml/min/g. At circulation times of less than 30 min, 65Zn fluxes between blood and brain are bidirectional, where influx has a K value of greater than 5 X 10(-4) ml/min/g. In addition to the blood space, the brain appears to contain a rapidly exchanging compartment(s) for 65Zn of approximately 4 ml/100 g, which is not CSF.