The effect of zinc deficiency and diet restriction on GATA family gene expression in rat's kidney

Abstract

We reported that plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration, kidney EPO concentration and kidney EPO mRNA level were changed by moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction. It is not established how moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction induces these alterations. We propose a hypothesis that moderate zinc deficiency or diet restriction affects renal GATA family genes expression. Thirty 3‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were assigned into 3 dietary groups (n=10 each) and fed on dietary regimens for 4 weeks: control group (AIN‐93G; Control), moderate zinc‐deficient group (4.5 mg Zn/kg; zinc deficiency) and pair‐fed group (AIN‐93G; diet restriction). Kidney was separated into cortex and medulla for RNA isolation. Quantitative real time‐PCR using TaqMan proves was performed for mRNA of GATA family gene (GATA1, GATA2, GATA3, GATA4, GATA5, GATA6, Gatad1, Gatad2a and Gatad2b). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and the multiple comparison test of Tukey‐Kramer. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Kidney medulla mRNA expression per tissue weight of GATA4 and GATA5 were significantly decreased by zinc deficiency compared with Control. GATA2, GATA3, Gatad1, Gatad2a and Gatad2b were significantly decreased by zinc deficiency and diet restriction compared with Control. Kidney cortex mRNA expression per tissue weight were not significantly different among the groups for all genes. Cortex and medulla GATA1 and GATA6 mRNA expression per tissue weight were not changed. These results suggest that kidney GATA family gene mRNA expression were decreased by zinc deficiency and diet restriction, especially in medulla.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by KAKENHI grant‐in‐aid for Research Activity Start‐up (21800073) and Young Scientists (B) (23700928) and (15K16216).