Research

Down regulation by a low-zinc diet in gene expression of rat prostatic thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase

Yuko Ishikawa¹ , Hideki Kudo² , Satoe Suzuki² , Nahoko Nemoto³ , Shuji Sassa³ and Shinobu Sakamoto³

¹Institute of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado-city, Saitama 350-0288, Japan

²Institute of Medical Technology, Bunkyogakuin University, Tokyo 113-8668, Japan

³Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan

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Nutrition & Metabolism 2008, 5:12doi:10.1186/1743-7075-5-12

Published:	18 May 2008

Abstract

Background

Zinc has a wide spectrum of biological activities and its deficiency is related to various abnormalities of cell metabolism.

Methods

Wistar male rats, at age of 4 weeks, were fed a low-zinc diet for six weeks. The levels of bromodeoxyuridine incorporated into the prostatic DNA and the mRNA expression levels of prostate thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase were examined.

Result

The low-zinc diet caused a marked reduction in the body growth and organ weights, resulted in a low hematopoiesis, hypo-albuminemia and hypocholesterolemia. Although there were few differences in plasma biochemical markers, plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were reduced by the low-zinc diet. Bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive (S-phase) cells and mRNA expression levels of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase in the prostate cells were markedly affected by the low-zinc diet.

Conclusion

A low-zinc diet appears to reduce the body growth and organ weights including prostate, causing low plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone and reduction in prostate DNA replication in growing-rats.