ZINC CONTENT IN SELECTED TISSUES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS AFTER MAXIMAL EXERCISE

The Zn metabolism in experimental diabetic rats after maximal exercise was investigated. Forty male wistar rats were used, weighing 240 +/- 10 g at the beginning of this experiment. The animals were assigned to one of four experimental groups (n = 10): control at rest (CR), contr ol plus exercise (CE), diabetic at rest (DR), and diabetic plus exerci se (DE). Experimental diabetes was produced by a single intraperitonea l injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg). Thirty days after inje ction of streptozotocin, the animals of groups CE and DE were forced t o acute exercise (swimming) until exhaustion. Glucose, rectal temperat ure (RT), pH, swimming time (ST), hematocrit (Hct), serum, and tissue (heart, liver, kidney, and muscle) Zn concentrations were measured. Th e streptozotocin treated animals used in the current experiment were d iabetic. Increases in hepatic, renal, muscle, and serum levels Zn at r est and after exercise until exhaustion were found in normal and diabe tic rats. ST decreased (-180%) in the diabetic rat group. In conclusio n, the results of the present study indicate that STZ-induced diabetes was associated with altered tissue Zn concentration, both at rest and after exercise.