Blood Plasma Zinc Research Articles

THE LEVEL OF ZINC IN BLOOD PLASMA AND THE COURSE OF GALLSTONE DISEASE IN CHILDREN

Determining the zinc level in children's blood plasma is an urgent problem, given its possible participation in the formation of cholelithiasis.Aim. To investigate the level of zinc in the blood plasma and the clinical course of gallstone disease (GSD) in children.Methods. 69 children aged 10-17 years and 25 children without biliary tract pathology were selected by the method of simple randomization. Verification of the diagnosis was carried out by applying dynamic ultrasound examination and X-ray examination of the organs of the abdominal cavity. Quantitative determination of zinc in blood plasma was carried out using mass spectrometry.Results. Dysfunction of the biliary tract according to the hyperkinetic type occurred in 55.1±7.1% of children and according to the hypokinetic type in 44.9±3.9%. The asymptomatic variant of housing and communal services was observed in 23.9%, painful - in 54.3% of patients, paroxysmal - in 21.7% of patients. The plasma concentration of zinc in children with gastrointestinal diseases was 1.87 times lower than in children of the comparison group and 1.37 times lower than in children with hyperkinetic gallbladder dysfunction, while there was a probable difference between these indicators in children with housing and communal services and in children with the hypotonic type of gallbladder dysfunction (p<0.05).Conclusions. 1. The leading syndromes of gallstone disease in children were pain and dyspepsia. 2. Gallstone disease in children occurs against the background of gallbladder dysfunction with a predominance of the painful course, the formation of solitary bilirubin-derived concretions and minor changes in biochemical blood analysis. 3. The concentration of zinc in the blood plasma of children with gallstone disease is probably lower than in children of the comparison group and does not depend on age and gender.

Physiological Response of Lamb to Zinc Supplementation during Heat Stress Season

The aim of this research was to evaluate the role of zinc supplementation on the reduction of heat stress in local lambs during hot season. In the current experiment, twenty-seven lambs were housed indoor in individual pens (1.50 × 1.30m). Zinc was added to the fresh drinking water in three different levels namely T1 (0 mg Zn/day), T2 (36 mg Zn/day) and T3 (72 mg Zn/day). Serum zinc (zinc; µmol/L), Alkaline phosphate (ALP; U/I), Alanine amino transferase (ALT; U/I), Aspartate amino transferase (AST; U/I), Creatine kinase (CK; U/I), Blood glucose level (mg/dl), Triiodothyronine hormone (T3; ng/ml), Thyroxin hormone (T4; ng/ml) were measured once per week. Zinc supplementation results show significant decrease in Aspartate amino transferase (AST) in (week 4), and Creatine kinase (CK) at (week 6) in T1group. Also zinc supplementation decreased triiodothyronine hormone (T3), and thyroxin hormone (T4) in (week 4). Whereas serum zinc level and alkaline phosphate (ALP) increased, also blood glucose level increased significantly in T2 (week 5) when the lambs were supplemented with 36 mg / zinc/ day. However, no effect of zinc supplementation was recorded on lamb serum ALT. Zinc supplementation was effective to increase blood plasma zinc concentration, ALP and kept the level of T4 from reduction during heat stress. However, zinc supplementation failed to keep the level of T3 from reduction during heat stress. This could be due to the type of zinc that was supplemented in the current experiment was inorganic which is less bioavailable than organic zinc

Plasma zinc's alter ego is a low‐molecular‐weight humoral factor

Mild dietary zinc deprivation in humans and rodents has little effect on blood plasma zinc levels, and yet cellular consequences of zinc depletion can be detected in vascular and other tissues. We proposed that a zinc-regulated humoral factor might mediate the effects of zinc deprivation. Using a novel approach, primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated with plasma from zinc-deficient (<1 mg Zn/kg) or zinc-adequate (35 mg Zn/kg, pair-fed) adult male rats, and zinc levels were manipulated to distinguish direct and indirect effects of plasma zinc. Gene expression changes were analyzed by microarray and qPCR, and incubation of VSMCs with blood plasma from zinc-deficient rats strongly changed the expression of >2500 genes, compared to incubation of cells with zinc-adequate rat plasma. We demonstrated that this effect was caused by a low-molecular-weight (∼2-kDa) zinc-regulated humoral factor but that changes in gene expression were mostly reversed by adding zinc back to zinc-deficient plasma. Strongly regulated genes were overrepresented in pathways associated with immune function and development. We conclude that zinc deficiency induces the production of a low-molecular-weight humoral factor whose influence on VSMC gene expression is blocked by plasma zinc. This factor is therefore under dual control by zinc.

1027 Mineral Profile of Pneumococcal Diseases in the Children

Background and AimsA mineral homeostases is assotiation of processes of sorbtion, distributing, and elimination of mineral composition. Mineral matters play an important role in maintenance of acid-basic balance, osmolality, participate...

Insight to Physiology and Pathology of Zinc(II) Ions and Their Actions in Breast and Prostate Carcinoma

Zinc(II) ions contribute to a number of biological processes e.g. DNA synthesis, gene expression, enzymatic catalysis, neurotransmission, and apoptosis. Zinc(II) dysregulation, deficiency and over-supply are connected with various diseases, particularly cancer. 98 % of human body zinc(II) is localized in the intracellular compartment, where zinc(II) is bound with low affinity to metallothionein (MT). Zinc transporters ZIP and ZnT maintain transmembrane transport from/to cells or organelles. Imbalance of their regulation is described in cancers, particularly prostate (down-regulated zinc transporters ZIP1, 2, 3 and ZnT-2) and breast, notably its high-risk variant (up-regulated ZIP6, 7, 10). As a result, intracellular and even blood plasma zinc(II) levels are altered. MT protects cells against oxidative stress, because it cooperates with reduced glutathione (GSH). Recent studies indicate elevated serum level of MT in a number of malignancies, among others in breast, and prostate. MT together with zinc(II) affect apoptosis and proliferation, thus together with its antioxidative effects it may affect cancer. To date, only little is known about the influence of zinc(II) and MT on cancer, while these compounds may play an important role in pathogenesis. This review concludes current data regarding the impact of zinc(II) on the pathogenesis of breast and prostate cancers with potential outlines of new, targeted therapy and prevention. Moreover, blood plasma zinc(II) and MT levels and dietary zinc(II) intake are discussed in relation to breast and prostate cancer risk.

Structure, Properties, and Engineering of the Major Zinc Binding Site on Human Albumin

Most blood plasma zinc is bound to albumin, but the structure of the binding site has not been determined. Zn K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and modeling studies show that the major Zn(2+) site on albumin is a 5-coordinate site with average Zn-O/N distances of 1.98 A and a weak sixth O/N bond of 2.48 A, consistent with coordination to His(67) and Asn(99) from domain I, His(247) and Asp(249) from domain II (residues conserved in all sequenced mammalian albumins), plus a water ligand. The dynamics of the domain I/II interface, thought to be important to biological function, are affected by Zn(2+) binding, which induces cooperative allosteric effects related to those of the pH-dependent neutral-to-base transition. N99D and N99H mutations enhance Zn(2+) binding but alter protein stability, whereas mutation of His(67) to alanine removes an interdomain H-bond and weakens Zn(2+) binding. Both wild-type and mutant albumins promote the safe management of high micromolar zinc concentrations for cells in cultures.

Rapid and Direct Determination of Selenium, Copper, and Zinc in Blood Plasma by Flow Injection-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

A flow injection-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (FIICP- MS) with a simple sample preparation procedure was developed for the determination of selenium, copper, and zinc in blood serum/plasma. A serum/plasma sample was filtered through a 0.45-mum membrane filter and diluted with a mixture of trace elements in a standard solution (9 : 1, v/v). Measurement of the reference serum sample confirmed the accuracy of our method for selenium, copper, and zinc concentration. In the case of blood plasma samples obtained from six healthy adult males, the selenium, copper, and zinc concentrations were similar to those of a typical healthy male in Japan. These results suggest that the sample preparative procedure coupled with FI-ICP-MS can be used for the routine determination of selenium, copper, and zinc in human blood serum/plasma.

Effect of Dietary Zinc on the Levels and Distribution of Fatty Acids and Vitamin A in Blood Plasma Chylomicrons

The aim of this work was to explore the effects of a low- and high-zinc diet and vitamin Aon the distribution of fatty acids in chylomicrons. Mongolian Gerbils were fed a basal diet (for 3 wk) containing 8 or 38 mg zinc/kg of feed (low-zinc group [termed LZ group] and saturated zinc group [termed SZ group], respectively). The following day, the animals were given sunflower oil containing 50 nmol vitamin A. The results showed that the concentration of zinc in blood plasma was similar in both groups. The amount of plasma chylomicrons was lower in the LZ group than in the SZ group (p < 0.001). The concentration of retinol in blood plasma was lower in the LZ group than in the SZ group (p < 0.01). However, the results demonstrated an increase in the blood plasma retinol concentration in the LZ group compared to the SZ group when calculated per milligram of plasma chylomicrons (p < 0.01). In plasma chylomicrons, fatty acids corresponding to 16:0, 16:1, 17:0, 17:1, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, 20:0, 21:0, and 20:4 were detected. The fatty acid distribution was similar in both groups. There was no major difference in the concentration of fatty acids in plasma chylomicrons between both experimental groups, except for 20:4 (a lower amount was found in the SZ group). Our results show that dietary zinc influences both the amount of chylomicrons in blood plasma and the concentrations of retinol and arachidonic acid in chylomicrons.

Plasma Antioxidants Changes after Acute Cadmium Intoxication in Rats

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Effect of gestational age on cord blood plasma copper, zinc, magnesium and albumin.

The transport of essential trace elements from mother to fetus varies throughout gestation, and the role of transport proteins in the neonate and the mother may change during pregnancy. Magnesium, often used as tocolytic agent, may reach the fetus and appear in cord blood at higher than normal concentrations. To determine cord blood plasma zinc, copper and magnesium concentrations, as well as plasma albumin in premature and full-term newborns, and correlate these values with those of maternal blood plasma at birth. Also, to examine whether cord blood plasma concentration of these elements varies with gestational age. The 35 mother-infant pairs included: 11 in the 38-42-week gestational age (GA), 9 in the 34-37-week GA, 11 in the 29-33-week GA group and 4 in the 24-28-week GA. Magnesium for tocolysis was given to five of the mothers in the 29-33-week GA cohort and two of the women giving birth at 24-28-week GA. Trend analysis showed that while cord plasma zinc decreased with GA at birth, the reverse was observed for copper. There were no differences with GA either in maternal plasma zinc or copper. However, maternal ceruloplasmin tended to decrease with GA (P=0.0174). Maternal and cord blood plasma magnesium exhibited a strong correlation (r=0.942, P<0.001), as well as between cord plasma magnesium and zinc (r=0.448, P<0.01). While the vigorous mother-to-fetus uphill zinc transfer is clear throughout the last trimester, copper remains in cord blood plasma at much lower concentrations than in the mother, suggesting that prematurity may place the newborn infant at a greater risk than the term infant to copper deficiency. This situation, together with a reduced synthesis in the fetus of the transport protein ceruloplasmin, creates another potential challenge in the nutritional support of the premature infant.

Effect of Dexamethasone Stress on Concentrations of Zinc in Blood Plasma and in Sub-Cellular Fractions of Various Tissues of Neonatal Buffalo Calves

Effect of chemical stress of daily administration of glucocorticoid (dexamethasone @0.125 mg./calf/day) injections on plasma zinc levels, Zn status of body tissues and its distribution in sub cellular fractions, was studied in neonatal buffalo calves. Daily i/m injections of dexamethasone, starting at the completion of 1 week of age and continued till 8th week, led to a significant decline in plasma Zn concentration from 3rd week onwards, which then persisted throughout the rest of the experimental period. In control group, liver had the highest concentration of zinc, followed by heart, muscle, spleen, kidney and testis. In all these tissues, cytosolic fractions had the highest (>60%) zinc levels followed by nuclear, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. In dexamethasone treated calves, there was a significant increase in the Zn uptake by the tissues of liver and muscle. This increase in zinc concentration was observed in all the sub cellular fractions of liver and muscle, however about 80% of this increase was in cytosolic fraction. It was concluded that glucocorticoid-induced stress caused increase in Zn levels of liver/muscles and decrease in blood plasma zinc, thus indicating a redistribution of Zn in body. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 7 : 1022-1025)

The impact of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in blood and seminal plasma on semen parameters in men

To investigate the impact of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in blood and seminal plasma on semen parameters, 107 fertile and 103 subfertile males provided a standardized blood and semen specimen. Total calcium and magnesium concentrations were determined with colorimetric end point assay procedures. Zinc and copper were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization guidelines (1992). The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in blood and seminal plasma were not different between the subfertile and fertile group. Weak correlations were demonstrated between blood plasma zinc concentrations and sperm count (r s = 0.18), sperm motility (r s = 0.15), and abnormal sperm morphology (r s = 0.13). Zinc and magnesium concentrations in seminal plasma correlated weakly with sperm count (r s = 0.17 and r s = 0.16, respectively), and copper concentrations in blood plasma with motility (r s = 0.25). Strong correlations were found between calcium, magnesium, and zinc in seminal plasma. Although calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper play an essential role in spermatogenesis and fertility, the determination of these elements in blood and seminal plasma does not discriminate on the basis of fertility in this group of men.

Determination of copper and zinc in blood plasma by ion chromatography using a cobalt internal standard.

Ion chromatography was used to detect levels of copper and zinc in blood plasma from renal dialysis patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and haemodialysis (HD). The developed method used cobalt as an internal standard and when combined with the standard additions method improved the overall precision of the results by between -0.3 and 6.0% and -0.8 and 5.7% for copper and zinc, respectively. The method was compared with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and the results indicated no significant difference between the two methods with or without an internal standard. Without an internal standard, tcalc was 0.869 with a tcrit of 2.201 (n = 12, P = 0.05) and with an internal standard, tcalc was 0.189 compared to a tcrit of 2.201 (n = 12, P = 0.05). The copper and zinc levels in blood plasma in both dialysis groups were not significantly different to the copper and zinc levels in blood plasma of the control patients. A convenient method of analysis of trace elements in blood such as ion chromatography with UV/VIS detection is useful for determining whether inorganic elements may be disrupted in the body due to changes in the state of health.

Validation of the determination of copper and zinc in blood plasma and urine by ICP MS with cross-flow and direct injection nebulization

The simultaneous determination of copper and zinc in human plasma and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) is discussed. The performances of a cross-flow nebulizer and a direct-injection nebulizer (DIN) were compared. Flow-injection-DIN-ICP MS analysis of clinical samples using 1–2 μl samples was optimized. Isobaric interferences were discussed and were demonstrated to be eliminated for the 65Cu and most of the Zn nuclides. The need for standard addition to compensate for signal suppression in the case of some serum samples was indicated. Results obtained by ICP MS using calibration with aqueous standard solutions were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by flame AAS for a batch of real blood plasma and urine samples. The methods developed were validated by analysis of several standard reference materials.

Effects of dietary zinc deficiency on gonadotrophin secretion and testicular growth in young male sheep.

The hypothesis that the secretion of gonadotrophins would be reduced by zinc deficiency was tested in five groups of four young Merino rams (initial liveweight 22 kg). Four groups were fed ad libitum with diets containing 4, 10, 17 or 27 micrograms Zn g-1. The effects of loss of appetite on the deficient diet was controlled by feeding a fifth group (pair-fed control) at a rate of 27 micrograms Zn g-1, but the amount of feed offered was restricted to that eaten voluntarily by the deficient (4 micrograms Zn g-1) group. Blood was sampled every 20 min for 32 h on two occasions before the treatments were imposed and 96 days later, at the end of the experiment. The rams were injected with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 10 ng kg-1 i.v.) after each serial sampling, and with naloxone (1 mg kg-1 i.v.) 24 h after the end of the final GnRH test. In the group that were fed the diet with the lowest zinc content, the concentration of zinc in blood plasma was reduced to 18% of that in the pair-fed controls (P < 0.05) and was within the deficient range. The appetite of the deficient rams was half that of the controls fed 27 micrograms Zn g-1 ad libitum and there was no increase in liveweight or testicular diameter during pubertal development. Similar, but smaller, effects were observed in the pair-fed controls. There were no significant differences between pair-fed and deficient groups in the frequency of the luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses or in the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but the secretion of gonadotrophins was markedly lower in both groups than in the control rams fed ad libitum. The response to GnRH was not affected by treatment, but the increase in LH pulse frequency evoked by naloxone was lower in the deficient animals than in other groups. The animals fed zinc at intermediate rates (10-17 micrograms g-1) showed similar responses to the controls fed ad libitum. It is concluded that the specific effects of zinc deficiency on testicular function were small. Most of the reduction in testicular growth in rams fed a deficient diet was not specifically related to the trace element, but was due to the fall in energy and protein intake caused by the loss of appetite. This leads to a reduction in the frequency of GnRH pulses secreted by the hypothalamus, and to low rates of gonadotrophin secretion by the pituitary gland.

Application of directly coupled flame atomic absorption spectrometry-fast protein liquid chromatography to the determination of protein-bound metals

The use of a new interface for directly coupled flame atomic absorption spectrometry-high-performance liquid chromatography is described for the determination of metals associated with various proteins. The proteins are first separated using fast protein liquid chromatography, the eluate then being transported as a series of discrete aliquots directly to the flame. The interface consists of eight platinum wire spirals mounted at 45° to each other on a rotating disc. The disc is turned to a number of pre-defined positions by a stepper motor. The complete interface is under microcomputer control, allowing the speed of rotation, stopping position and time in each location to be optimised. This allows complete compatibility between the interface and a wide range of eluate flow-rates. The potential application of this technique to clinical analysis is demonstrated by determinations of zinc, copper and cadmium in various proteins and zinc in blood plasma. Zinc was shown to be associated with the albumin and α2-macroglobulin fractions in the plasma.

Cadmium sanguin et zinc plasmatique chez l'hypertendu: A propos de 76 observations

Changes in total blood cadmium level (CdT), in blood plasma Zinc level (ZnP) and in CdT/ZnP ratio were studied in 39 hypertensive patients compared to 37 healthy subjects. The hypertensive patients were caracterized by a higher CdT level (p less than 10(-5)), a lower ZnP level (p less than 10(-7)) and a higher CdT/ZnP ratio (p less than 10(-7)). A negative correlation was found between CdT and ZnP, and between blood pressure values (systolic and diastolic) and ZnP. A positive correlation was found between blood pressure values and CdT, and therefore CdT/ZnP ratio.

An assessment of the physiological significance of cimetidine interactions with copper and zinc in biofluids as based on the computer-simulated distribution of the involved complexes at therapeutic levels of the drug.

The hypothesis was formerly put forward that the main therapeutic action of cimetidine (the histamine H2-receptor antagonist marketed as Tagamet) as well as some of its side effects might be mediated by its interactions with essential metal ions. The present paper reports the potentiometric study of the coordination of the drug with copper(II) and zinc(II) in NaCl 0.15 mol dm-3 at 37 degrees C. Special attention was paid to copper complexes, due to (i) the involvement of cimetidine in rheumatoid arthritis evolution which could be related to the well-established role of copper against this disease, (ii) the anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory properties of copper. In particular, the copper-cimetidine-histamine and copper-cimetidine-histidine ternary systems were investigated. Computer simulations of the distribution of cimetidine, zinc and copper in blood plasma were performed at therapeutic levels of the drug. No influence can be expected from cimetidine on the bioavailability of these metal ions, the opposite being also true. The mediation of copper in the action of cimetidine on rheumatoid arthritis should thus be ruled out, the influence of the drug being rather interpretable in terms of reduction of histamine release. Similarly, the sexual dysfunctions due to cimetidine administration are unlikely to arise from the interactions of drug with zinc in blood plasma. The possible involvement of copper and zinc in cimetidine gastrointestinal absorption is also discussed.

A comparative study of flame atomic-absorption methods for determination of zinc in serum and blood plasma

Seven selected methods for determination of zinc in blood plasma by flame atomic-absorption spectroscopy have been compared. Analytical characteristics such as sensitivity, detection limit, precision, analytical recovery, accuracy and physical interferences were studied. Two of the seven methods are recommended as the most suitable for the purpose.

The determination of zinc in blood plasma by atomic absorption spectrometry

Atomic absorption spectrometry has been used in the analysis of plasma zinc because of its sensitivity and simplicity. Dilution techniques reduce the viscosity of plasma and facilitate direct analysis, but viscosity differences can produce deviations in aspiration rates between sample and standard, and so cause errors. A direct (1 + 4) dilution of plasma with deionized water is suggested. Working zinc standards are prepared in 5% glycerol to approximate the viscosity characteristics and aspiration rates of the diluted plasma samples. The analytical curves for diluted plasma samples and 5% glycerol working standards proved identical. Plasma zinc concentrations are accurately calculated from a daily working curve. The accuracy of the method exceeds 99% and recovery of added inorganic zinc to a pooled plasma averages 99.8%. The precision is primarily limited by baseline drift. A confidence interval of ± 2 μg/100 ml was achieved by means of six contiguous 10s-integration readings. The method is free of nebulizer clogging and matrix interferences and is not subject to significant day-to-day variations. Because the method is accurate, sensitive, reliable and specific, it should be useful in the clinical laboratory.