Influence of maternal dietary zinc intake on in vitro tubulin polymerization in fetal rat brain

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Abstract
The hypothesis that one of the biochemical lesions underlying zinc deficiency‐induced teratogenicity is altered microtubule formation was tested. Day 19 fetuses from zinc‐deficient Sprague‐Dawley dams were characterized by low brain supernate zinc concentrations and slow brain tubulin polymerization rates compared to controls. Brain supernate tubulin and protein concentrations were similar in zinc‐deficient and control fetuses. In vitro brain tubulin polymerization rates were increased following addition of zinc to either control or zinc‐deficient brain supernates; however, the stimulatory effect of added zinc on polymerization was significantly higher in brain supernates obtained from zinc‐deficient fetuses compared to controls. These results support the idea that one effect of fetal zinc deficiency is a reduction in tubulin polymerization, which in turn may result in altered microtubule function.