Impact of zinc deficiency on hormones secreted by anterior pituitary of male wistar rats

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc deficiency on secretion of anterior pituitary hormones of male Wistar rats. Experiments were set for 2 and 4 weeks. For this study thirty albino male Wistar rats (pre-pubertal period) weighing 40-50 gm were divided into three groups: Zinc Control (ZC), Zinc Deficient (ZD) and Pair Fed (PF). ZC and PF groups were fed with 100 ppm zinc and ZD group were fed with 1.00 ppm zinc in the diet. For hormonal assay blood samples were collected from experimental group through cardiac puncture by using heparinized disposable syringe. Serum and plasma were stored at -20ºC until assayed. Serum FSH, LH, Prl, TSH, GH and plasma ACTH were determined by Chemi Luminescent Immuno Assay (CLIA). The results showed that serum FSH, LH, GH, PRL, TSH as well as plasma ACTH level exhibited a significant (P<0.05) decrease when ZD (2- and 4- weeks) group were compared with their respective controls. However serum GH level showed a non-significant decrease on comparison between PF and ZD (2- and 4- weeks) groups. Meanwhile, prolactin level exhibited a non-significant decrease on comparison between 2 PF and 2 ZD and significant decrease when comparison was carried between 4 PF and 4 ZD. In conclusion, it has been observed that a low level of zinc affects secretion of pituitary hormones thus affecting overall physiology and functioning of the body. The impact of zinc deficiency was more pronounced after four week of experiment.