Andorgenic expression in the submandibular gland of zinc-deficient mice
1992
Minetti, C.A.S.A. | Oshiro, M.M. | Santos, M.F. | Romaldini, J.H. | Moura, N.M. | Valle, L.B.S. | Oliveira-Filho, R.M.
The effects of zinc deficiency were studied in mice submandibular salivary glands (SMG). Zn-restricted mice (Zn-) were maintained from weaning until adult age (60 days) with a powdered diet containing 3 mg Zn2+/kg. Pair-fed animals (30 mg Zn2+/kg powdered diet) and control animals fed a regular pelleted diet were also used. Total protein content and proteolytic activity of SMG did not differ among the groups, but morphometric evaluations revealed significant alterations in the nucleus/cytoplasm size ratios, most likely due to an absolute reduction in nuclear volume (control = 122.5 +/- 6.4; Zn- = 91.6 +/- 10.5; pair-fed = 125.1 +/- 6.8 micromoles3) paralleled by an increase of the height of the duct epithelium (control = 70.5 +/- 3.0; Zn- = 90.5 +/- 4.2; pair-fed = 81.7 +/- 3.0 micromoles). The altered food consistency could be responsible for these morphological changes. In order to assess the subcellular distribution of SMG androgen receptors in conditions of chronic Zn deficiency, Zn- animals were mated and the F1 generation was fed as their dams until the age of 45 days. Cytosolic (in 105,000 g supernatants) and nuclear (KCl-extracted) SMG receptors were determined with [3H]R1881. The Zn- animals had reduced nuclear/cytosolic ratios of androgen receptors (control = 0.62; Zn- = 0.14), as an indication that chronically deficient Zn intake determines a sort of destabilization of the interactions of androgen-receptor complexes with target cell nucleus.
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