Absorption, Excretion and Tissue Distribution of Stable Zinc and 65Zinc in Ponies

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Absorption excretion and tissue distribution of stable Zn and 65Zn in mature ponies were studied in three experiments. In the first experiment, the metabolism of stable, dietary Zn and intravenously administered 65Zn was studied in three ponies in a 3 X 3 Latin square design. The ponies were fed a corn and beet pulp diet containing 35 mg Zn/kg or the same diet with 250 or 520 mg of supplemental Zn as ZnO. The ponies absorbed and retained more stable Zn when fed 250 mg of supplemental Zn that when fed the basal diet alone or the basal diet plus 520 mg of supplemental Zn. The ponies retained more 65Zn (percentage of dose) when fed the basal diet or the same diet with 250 mg of supplemental Zn. The intestinal tract was the major route of excretion of stable Zn and 65Zn. In the second experiment, the retention of an oral dose of 65Zn was studied in three ponies in a 3 X 3 Latin square design. The ponies were fed a beet pulp, corn starch and alfalfa meal diet containing 15 mg Zn/kg or the same diet with 240 or 480 mg of supplemental Zn as ZnO. The ponies retained a greater percentage of a dose of 65Zn when fed the basal diet or the basal diet plus 240 mg of supplemental Zn than when fed 480 mg of supplemental Zn. In the third experiment, four ponies fed a commercial pelleted diet containing 125 mg Zn/kg were given an intravenous dose of 65Zn. The ponies were killed 7 to 14 days after receiving the dose and tissues were counted for radioactivity. Parenchymatous organs such as liver, pancreas, kidney, heart and lung contained a greater percentage of 65Zn than did structural organs such as bone and muscle. The wall of the gastrointestinal tract contained more radioactivity than did the contents.