Changes in the levels of marker expression by mononuclear phagocytes in zinc-deficient mice

To define the effects of dietary zinc deficiency on mononuclear phagocytes young adult A/J mice were fed zinc-deficient, zinc-adequate, or restricted amounts of a zinc-adequate diet for 28 days. The deficiency did not affect the total number or the percentage of nonspecific esterase (NSE)-positive cell populations in the blood or peritoneal cavity of the mice; however, the total numbers of leukocytes and NSE-positive cells in the spleen were reduced in the deficient and restricted mice to about 50% of the zinc-adequate group. In the peripheral blood of deficient mice, the percentages of adherent cells expressing Fc (FcR) and complement (CR) receptors were five and two times greater, respectively, than zinc-adequate controls. The FcR-bearing cells of the spleens of zinc-deficient mice were also increased twofold over controls. Adherent cells from the peripheral blood and spleen of zinc-deficient mice were able to phagocytize a slightly greater number of latex particles than cells from the zinc-adequate or restricted mice. The presence of zinc in fetal bovine serum did not enhance the ability of mononuclear phagocytes from deficient mice to engulf latex in vitro.