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Published on: May 15, 2019
Dietary Zinc Restriction and Chronic Restraint Stress Affect Mice Physiology, Immune Organ Morphology, and Liver
Dorota Bederska-Łojewska1, Kinga Szczepanik2, Justyna Turek1
1Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Smętna 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
Background:
Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that zinc deficiency and chronic stress contribute to depressive symptoms. Our study explores the intricate relationship between these factors by examining their physiological and biochemical effects across various organs in C57Bl/6J mice.
Methods:
The mice were divided into four groups: control, chronic restraint stress for 3 weeks, a zinc-restricted diet (<3 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, and a combination of stress and zinc restriction. Mice spleen and thymus weights were measured, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted for liver and intestinal morphometry. Moreover, metallothionein (MT-1, MT-2, and MT-3), zinc transporter (ZnT-1), oxidative stress markers (TBARS, SOD, and GSH-Px), and zinc, iron, and copper concentrations in the liver were evaluated. Immunohistochemical analysis of the jejunum for ZIP1 and ZIP4 was also performed.
Conclusions:
Our findings reveal that dietary zinc restriction and chronic stress induce structural changes in the intestines and immune organs and impact metallothionein expression, oxidative stress, and liver iron and copper homeostasis.
