Studies of Zinc Metabolism in the Rat

Nutritional zinc can be studied in the male rat as a pharmacologic agent. Responses to zinc in respect to body growth, hematologic effects, blood and tissue levels, and body temperature control are all log-dose related. Copper levels in liver and kidney are influenced by zinc intake. Cadmium alters these responses inversely in relation to the zinc intake, and thus can be considered as an antimetabolite of zinc. Cadmium was localized in liver and kidney but not in testes of our animals. Our data indicate that there is very minimal storage of readily available zinc in the male rat.