Effects of zinc deficiency and corticosterone elevation on bone marrow in rats.

OBJECTIVE

The effects of zinc deficiency and serum corticosterone elevation, in a zinc-deficient state, on rat bone marrow were studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: zinc-adequate (ZA), restricted ZA (RZA), zinc-deficient (ZD) and ZD with the injection of Mifepristone (ZD+Mife). Platelet and reticulocyte counts, levels of serum zinc and corticosterone, bone marrow cellularity and morphological alterations of marrow were examined in all rats.

RESULTS

Decreased marrow cellularity, decreased numbers of peripheral platelets and reticulocytes, and increased adipocytes in the marrow were observed in ZD rats. The injection of Mifepristone improved marrow cellularity, and increased the number of platelets, while decreasing adipocytes in the marrow in ZD rats.

CONCLUSION

Both zinc deficiency itself and the associated serum corticosterone elevation induced bone marrow suppression in rats.