抄録
Zinc is known to be an essential trace element for all organisms. In human subjects body growth and development is reported to be strictly dependent on zinc. The nervous, reproductive and immune systems are also particularly influenced by zinc deficiency. However, the effects of zinc deficiency on the number of immuno-responsible cells have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, we studied the effects of zinc deficiency on the number of white blood cells in rats. Four weeks old male Sprague Dawley rats were used, and randomly divided into the control diet group (CON: Zn=53.5mg/kg diet) and zinc deficient diet group (ZDD: Zn=1.9mg/kg diet) . Both group rats were fed in each diet for 26 days. During the experimental period, the numbers of white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were analyzed with a flow-cytometer. The number of neutrophils in the ZDD in 18th to 26th days was significantly higher than those of the CON group. The numbers of eosinophils and basophils of the ZDD in 14th day were 2.0 and 5.2 times significantly higher, respectively, than those of the CON. The numbers of lymphocytes in the ZDD in 18th to 26th days were significantly lower than those of the CON. However, The numbers of total white blood cells and monocytes were not changed in both groups. These results suggest that zinc deficiency increases the number of natural immunity cells and decreases the number of acquired immunity cells in rats. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S224]
