Abstract
To test the hypothesis that prednisone administration interferes with zinc metabolism and impairs growth, 41 male, weanling. Charles River rats weighing 43-60 g were randomly assigned to four groups. Three groups of 12 rats received prednisone daily for five weeks at dosages of 0.5, 2.0 and 8.0 mg/kg per day, respectively. The control group were pair-fed with the third treatment group receiving the maximum dose of prednisone. In the fifth week, all animals received 65Zn at 0.5 uCi/100 g body weight by stomach tube. Retention was measured in whole body gamma counters. The rate of weight gain decreased in the prednisone-treated animals. While food intakes between the three groups of treated rats were no different, the food efficiency ratio of 0.10 ± 0.03 of the third group was significantly lower (P <.001) compared to the pair-fed controls (0.36 ± 0.03) as well as the other treatment groups (0.25 to 0.29). The whole body 65Zn retention in the pair-fed control animals at 24 and 216 hrs was 90% and 60%, respectively, compared to retention of 60% and 10% in the maximally treated rats. Prednisone treatment depressed the capacity of the liver, kidney, muscle, bone and testes to accumulate 65Zn. Urinary excretion of zinc and nitrogen increased in proportion to the doses of prednisone. We conclude that in growing rats, prednisone treatment impaired weight gain, reduced food efficiency and decreased 65Zn retention.
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Jacob, M., Chan, J. & Smith, J. EFFECT OF PREDNISONE ON GROWTH AND ZINC METABOLISM IN RATS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 358 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01593
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01593