Cytogenetic Effects of Zinc Deficiency on Mitotic and Meiotic Cells in Mammals

Abstract

The cytogenetic effects of short-term zinc deficiency on bone marrow cells and unfertilized oocytes were studied in rodents. Simultaneously, the susceptibility to mutagens in the zinc-deficient state was examined in vivo.

Male mice were given control or zinc-deficient diet for 4 weeks. The incidence of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) of bone marrow cells in zinc-deficient mice was 11. 4±1.0, which was different from 6.9±1.7 in control mice. There was a dose response with respect to SCE frequencies in the mitomycin C (MMC) -treated groups. The MMC-induced SCE were additively increased in zinc-deficient mice. However, no differences in mitotic chromosome aberrations and cell cycle kinetics were not found among groups. There may be a fundamental relationship between the induction of SCE and the disturbed zinc metabolism.

In female hamsters given zinc-deficient diet for 8 days (2 estrous cycles), the mean number of ovulated oocytes (11.6±1.6) was decreased significantly compared with 14.1±1.6 for the controls. However, no apparent increases of degenerated oocytes and meiotic chromosome aberrations were encountered in both hamsters. The increase in diploid oocytes was the most prominent effect in cadmium-treated hamsters. However, there was no difference in the incidence of diploid oocytes between control and zinc-deficient hamsters. These findings indicate a possible inhibitory effect of zinc deficiency on ovulation.