[Analysis of zinc concentrations in leukocytes and its application to patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].

Zinc concentrations in leukocytes of healthy subjects and patients with NIDDM were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Lymphocytes and granulocytes were isolated from whole blood by discontinuous gradients of mono-poly resolving medium and flow cytometry. Flow cytometry was used for isolating lymphocytes and granulocytes from mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The results in healthy subjects and patients with NIDDM were as follows: lymphocytes of healthy male and female subjects were 49.8 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- SE, microgram per 10(10) cells) and 50.0 +/- 1.4, respectively; granulocytes were 46.4 +/- 1.0 in male, 49.3 +/- 1.4 in female. Lymphocytes of male and female patients with NIDDM were 43.3 +/- 0.9 and 43.1 +/- 1.7, respectively; granulocytes, 41.2 +/- 1.4 in male, 43.8 +/- 1.0 in female. There was a significant difference in the zinc concentrations of lymphocytes and granulocytes between healthy subjects and patients with NIDDM. However, there was no significant difference in the zinc concentrations of lymphocytes and granulocytes between male and female. In healthy subjects, zinc concentrations of lymphocytes and granulocytes significantly lowered with aging.