Enhanced lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes of zinc-deficient rats

The clinical association of decreased serum and hepatic zinc in patients with cirrhosis of the liver presumably arising from excess ethanol ingestion prompted a study of the activities of zinc and alcohol in experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of zinc deficiency upon lipid peroxidation in the liver. The effect of ethanol and zinc deficiency on lipid peroxidation was also evaluated. Rats were used in the experimental design, one group received a control diet, and one was maintained on a zinc-deficient diet. One-half of each group also received 3.85 g ethanol per kilogram body weight daily. Lipid peroxidation in vivo was determined by estimation of diene conjugation of microsomal lipids. The in vitro lipid peroxidation potential was measured by the generation of malonic dialdehyde by enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic reactions. Analysis of this data indicated that increased hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation was associated with zinc deficiency whether using in vivo or in vitro indices of measurement. Review of the data from individual animals indicated that the lowest levels of serum zinc were associated with increased hepatic content of phospholipids. The degree of lipid peroxidation in the zinc deficient animals was not increased by ingestion of alcohol.