Multiple trauma and zinc metabolism in adult rats

Zinc metabolism and turnover were studied after oral 65Zn given to 1-year-old rats before acute fracture trauma, after which calcium balance was decreased but still positive, while that of zinc was highly negative due to early increased intestinal excretion and late increased urinary excretion. Decreased serum calcium was related to increased urinary excretion while serum zinc initially seemed to be lowered by a metallothionein-mediated flux into the liver. The intestinal and late urinary losses of zinc would greatly affect the body stores of zinc. The specific activity of 65Zn and the zinc accretion rate were increased in intact rat skeletons. A similar but not so extensive reaction of intact control rats in this study indicates a liability in the homeostasis of zinc for adult rats.