Effect of zinc deficiency in lambs on plasma and neutrophil alkaline phosphatase

Abstract

Concentrations of zinc in plasma and neutrophils (PMN), and corresponding alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, were determined in eight Romanoff X Berrichon lambs. In four animals fed in two groups, a zinc deficiency state was experimentally induced and monitored for up to 180 days. Significant reductions in plasma zinc level and plasma AP activity were observed around day 50, while no significant change could be detected in neutrophil zinc concentration. A marked rise in neutrophil AP activity was found. In zinc-depleted lambs, plasma zinc level and plasma AP activity were positively correlated; neutrophil and plasma AP activities were not. It is concluded that the simultaneous estimate of variations of AP activity in plasma and neutrophil is a sensitive diagnostic indicator of zinc status in lambs.