EFFECT OF ZINC-DEFICIENCY INDUCED BEFORE AND DURING PREGNANCY ON THE SURVIVAL OF FEMALE RATS AND THEIR PUPS

The objective of the present study was to determine the consequences o f Zn2+ deficiency on the gestational process. The study was conducted on adult Wistar virgin female rats fed isocaloric diets containing 16% protein and different Zn2+ concentrations, i.e., 2 ppm (severe restri ction), 6 ppm (moderate restriction), and 20 ppm (control). Rats recei ved the diets and water ad libitum for 7, 14 or 21 days before mating and throughout pregnancy. Survival of dams and pups decreased with inc reasing Zn2+ restriction and with time of exposure to the deficient di et. Mean survival rate for control dams and pups was 100%, whereas sev ere restriction (2 ppm for 21 days premating and during pregnancy) res ulted in survival rates of 25% and 0 for dams and pups, respectively. Dam and pup survival rates for moderate restriction (6 ppm) for the sa me period were 83% and 72%, respectively. These results indicate the i mportance of Zn2+ before and during pregnancy and show that Zn2+ defic iency causes metabolic alterations which impair normal reproductive pr ocesses.