Calmodulin, zinc and calcium concentration in tissues of zinc- and calcium-deficient rats
Roth, H.P.; Kirchgessner, M.
Journal of Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Health and Disease 2(2): 73-78
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0931-2838 PMID: 2980802 Document Number: 306573
To demonstrate the effect of zinc and/or calcium deficiency on calmodulin concentration and also the antagonistic behaviour of Zn and Ca in metabolism, groups of 8 rats were given a basal diet with Zn 63 mg/kg and 0.88% Ca, Ca-deficient diet (0.0043% Ca), a Zn-deficient diet (Zn 1.1 mg/kg) or a diet deficient in Ca and Zn. The Zn-deficient diet significantly reduced the Zn concentration in serum 72, femur 65, pancreas 34, muscle 23, testes 11 and brain 7%, and increased the Ca concentration in testes 19 and brain 24%, but did not affect Ca concentration in serum, pancreas and muscle. Likewise Ca deficiency reduced the Ca concentration in serum 56, femur 40, pancreas 16, muscle 43, testes 19 and brain 24%, and increased the Zn concentration in femur 22%, although the Zn concentration in serum, pancreas, muscle and testes remained unaffected. Combined Zn and Ca deficiency increased Zn as well as Ca concentration in serum, femur and muscle, as compared with Zn or Ca deficiency alone. Alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced by 52% during Zn deficiency and was increased by a factor of 2.5 during Ca deficiency. Calmodulin concentrations in muscle, testes and brain as estimated by radioimmunoassay, were increased during Zn as well as Ca deficiency, although this increase could not be confirmed in every case.