Increased zinc absorption but not secretion in the small intestine of metallothionein-null mice

Biological Trace Element Research
B HinskensA M Rofe

Abstract

Metallothionein (MT) has been assigned a role in intestinal Zn absorption and secretion. The influence of MT was investigated in isolated segments of the small intestine from mice lacking the expression of MT I and II genes (MT-/-). To measure Zn absorption, washed 10- to 12-cm segments of the proximal and distal small intestine of MT-/- and control MT+/+ mice were filled with 65Zn as ZnSO4 (10 microg/mL), and the amount of 65Zn appearing in the external buffer was measured over 4 h. To measure Zn secretion, the same procedure was followed using everted gut segments. The 65Zn absorption from the small intestine was significantly greater in MT-/- mice, but only in the absence of albumin. In the proximal small intestine, the inclusion of 2% albumin in the external buffer significantly increased Zn absorption from 6.8% (no albumin) to 13.2% (with albumin) for MT-/-, and from 4.9% (no albumin) to 14.2% (with albumin) for MT+/+. In the distal segment, the respective values, with and without albumin respectively were 9.5% and 15.1% for MT-/- mice and 4.3% and 16.1% for MT+/+ mice. Regarding 65Zn secretion, there was no difference between MT+/+ and MT-/- in either segment. However, the rate of secretion was higher in the proximal smal...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 18, 2004·Journal of the American College of Nutrition·Jihye KimJanet C King
Sep 28, 2005·Archives of Toxicology·M StefanidouC Spiliopoulou

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