Reduction of Liver Xanthine Oxidase Activity and Iron Storage Proteins in Rats Fed Excess Zinc

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Abstract
Experiments were made to study the effect of 0.4% of dietary zinc on the activity of xanthine oxidase and the content of ferritin and hemosiderin in the liver of rats. The feeding of a high level of zinc produced a lowering of xanthine oxidase activity in the liver. The loss occurred after the rats had eaten the diet for a short time. Relevant to this result was the observation that liver molybdenum was not reduced in rats fed excess zinc. Both iron storage proteins in the liver of rats fed excess zinc were reduced. The percentage loss of ferritin was greater than that of hemosiderin, and ferritin contributed a greater amount to the total iron loss from the liver. These results suggest that, under the conditions of the experiment, ferritin was more labile than hemosiderin.

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