Effects of zinc deficiency upon pituitary function in sexually mature and immature male rats
1979
Root, Allen W. | Duckett, Gregory | Sweetland, Margaret | Reiter, Edward O.
Serum and pituitary levels of growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin (TSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in sexually mature (adult) and sexually immature (juvenile) male rats who had been deprived of dietary zinc for 15 and 7 weeks, respectively. Both groups had lower body weights, tail lengths, and ventral prostate weights than control rats. In adult zinc deficient rats, serum concentrations of GH and testosterone were lower and serum LH levels higher than controls. In juvenile zinc deficient rats, testes were smaller, serum concentrations of GH depressed, and pituitary content and concentration of LH and pituitary and serum levels of FSH increased. It is concluded that zinc deficiency has minimal effects upon the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of sexually mature rats, but leads to impairment of gonadal growth and increased synthesis and/or secretion of the pituitary gonadotropins in sexually immature males.
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