ZINC DEPRIVATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PERIPHERAL-NERVE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a zinc-deficien t diet on peripheral nerve structure and function. After 3 weeks on a zinc-deficient diet Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed, and sciatic n erves were removed and used for biochemical analyses and electron micr oscopy. Rats on a zinc-deficient diet demonstrated a decrease in nerve conduction velocity in vivo. Although plasma zinc levels were decreas ed 57% in zinc-deficient rats, sciatic nerve zinc was unchanged despit e the decrease in nerve conduction. Analysis of sciatic nerve from eac h group by electron microscopy revealed a loss of thickness of the mye lin sheath as well as defects within the neurolemma in the zinc-defici ent rats. The results reported here are believed to be the first to re late morphological to physiological effects of zinc deficiency in peri pheral nerve tissue. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.