Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of zinc on the activity of Cu/ZnSOD, lipid profile and arterial blood pressure in male Wistar rats.
Material and methods: The study included 53 male Wistar rats with basal weight 190-210 g. The animals were divided into three groups and put on diets with different zinc content. Group I animals (G1, n = 18) were on a diet with zinc content 52 mg/kg, group II animals (G2, n = 18) were on a diet with zinc content 155 mg/kg corresponding to standard food and group III animals (G3, n = 17) received zinc supplementation (236 mg/kg diet). The activity of Cu/ZnSOD was measured in erythrocytes with RANSOD reactive (RANDOX). Zinc content in the laboratory chow and serum concentration of zinc and copper were analyzed by direct flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Lipid profile was determined with reactives of ABX (France). Arterial blood pressure was measured on the rat's tail by an indirect method without anesthesia.
Results: Statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) was found in the activity of Cu/ZnSOD in G1 animals (1993.51 +/- 303.01) compared with G2 animals (2307.07 +/- 240.23). There was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) of serum LDL in G3 (1.52 +/- 0.21) compared with G1 animals (1.09 +/- 0.27) and statistically significant increase in the serum triglycerides in G1 animals (1.19 +/- 0.22) compared with G3 animals (0.75 +/- 0.17).
Conclusions: The results indicate that the activity of Cu/ZnSOD changes in relation to zinc diet and this correlates with the change in the arterial blood pressure. Lipid variables also are influenced and zinc supplementation leads to increase in the serum LDL and decrease in the serum triglycerides in Wistar rats.