Androgenic expression in the submandibular gland of zinc-deficient mice

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 36; no. 3; p. 167
• Main Authors: Minetti, C A, Oshiro, M M, Santos, M F, Romaldini, J H, Moura, N M, Valle, L B, Oliveira-Filho, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 1992
• Subjects: Androgens - metabolism; Animals; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Cytoplasm - ultrastructure; Feces - chemistry; Female; Male; Mice; Organ Size; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism; Submandibular Gland - metabolism; Submandibular Gland - pathology; Testosterone - blood; Zinc - deficiency
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000177713

The effects of zinc deficiency were studied in mice submandibular salivary glands (SMG). Zn-restricted mice (Zn-) were maintained from weaning until adult age (60 days) with a powdered diet containing 3 mg Zn2+/kg. Pair-fed animals (30 mg Zn2+/kg powdered diet) and control animals fed a regular pelleted diet were also used. Total protein content and proteolytic activity of SMG did not differ among the groups, but morphometric evaluations revealed significant alterations in the nucleus/cytoplasm size ratios, most likely due to an absolute reduction in nuclear volume (control = 122.5 +/- 6.4; Zn- = 91.6 +/- 10.5; pair-fed = 125.1 +/- 6.8 microns 3) paralleled by an increase of the height of the duct epithelium (control = 70.5 +/- 3.0; Zn- = 90.5 +/- 4.2; pair-fed = 81.7 +/- 3.0 microns). The altered food consistency could be responsible for these morphological changes. In order to assess the subcellular distribution of SMG androgen receptors in conditions of chronic Zn deficiency, Zn- animals were mated and the F1 generation was fed as their dams until the age of 45 days. Cytosolic (in 105,000 g supernatants) and nuclear (KCl-extracted) SMG receptors were determined with [3H]R1881. The Zn- animals had reduced nuclear/cytosolic ratios of androgen receptors (control = 0.62; Zn- = 0.14), as an indication that chronically deficient Zn intake determines a sort of destabilization of the interactions of androgen-receptor complexes with target cell nucleus.