Epstein O, Spinsi R, Woods B, Parbhoo S, Burroughs A K, Dormandy T L
Br J Exp Pathol. 1982 Apr;63(2):203-6.
Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis have subnormal liver zinc concentrations, and excessive urinary zinc excretion. It has been suggested that diversion of dietary zinc into the systemic circulation through porta-systemic shunts may be a major factor influencing the organ distribution of zinc in these patients. To test this hypothesis, we randomized Sprague-Dawley rats into a sham-operated group, and a group subjected to partial portal-vein occlusion (PPVO), which induces the formation of extensive porta-systemic collaterals. Three months after the operation, liver, brain and kidney zinc concentrations were measured in 8 sham-operated and 8 PPVO rats. Mean liver zinc concentrations were significantly higher in the PPVO group when compared to sham-operated controls (P less than 0.05). Brain and kidney zinc concentrations were similar in the 2 groups. This short-term study indicates that liver zinc concentrations are maintained and even increased in rats with porta-systemic shunting, and that diversion of portal blood into the systemic circulation is not a major cause of the low liver zinc concentration observed in alcoholic cirrhosis.
