Absorption of trace metals in the zinc-deficient rat.

The effects of zinc deficiency on the whole-body absorption and intestinal content of Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, and Cr were determined in the rat 1 h after oral administration of the isotopes. Both the absorption and intestinal content of Zn and Cr were increased in zinc-deficient rats, and the intestinal content of Feand Co was also increased in the zinc-deficient animals. Zinc administered orally with Cr decreased both absorption and intestinal content of the isotope in zinc-deficient rats. Chromium administered orally with Zn decreased intestinal content and absorption of Zn in zinc-deficient rats. Fractionation of mucosal supernatants by gel filtration showed that both zinc and chromium eluted in the same low molecular weight fraction. The elution patterns of zinc and cadmium from that of zinc-supplemented animals. These experiments provide some insight into the specificity of the zinc absorption pathway and present some explanations for the interaction or lack of interaction among trace elements.