Abstract
Changes in metallothionein I (MT-I) levels were measured in blood and tissues of rat pups from dams given diets containing 6, 9 or 40 mg zinc/kg from wk 1 of gestation and throughout lactation. After 1, 2 and 3 wk of lactation, litters from each group were killed and tissues analyzed for MT-I. The relatively mild degree of zinc deficiency, which had no effect on fetal viability or litter size and caused only slightly lower pup weight, caused significantly lower MT-I concentrations in pup liver, thymus, plasma and red cells, particularly in pups from dams receiving 6 mg zinc/kg. Maternal zinc supply is therefore a major determinant of MT-I concentrations in neonatal tissues, and assay of this protein in blood plasma and red cells may give a useful indication of zinc status.
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