Zinc Deficiency in the Developing Rat

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Abstract
Severe zinc deficiency in male and female weanling rats resulted in extreme retardation of growth, abnormal hair, and dermal lesions. Other effects of deficiency were depression of plasma protein level, abnormal estrous cycles, and histological lesions of testis and esophagus. All signs of deficiency were completely reversed by supplementation with zinc. Zinc deficiency in pregnant females caused, in a high proportion of full-term fetuses, gross congenital malformations encompassing every organ system. The rapid effect of the deficiency was brought about by lack of mobilization of zinc from maternal deposits with a concomitant rapid decline in the plasma zinc level. Neither decreased activity of certain enzymes nor depression of nucleic acid synthesis could account for the developmental anomalies.