ASIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, cilt.20, sa.2, ss.1068-1074, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging enzyme activities in liver tissue of zinc (Zn)-deficient rats and investigate relationship among these parameters in either group. 16 Male rats with a weight of 35-40 g were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into control (n = 8) and Zn-deficient groups. After 4 weeks of feeding, the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and liver tissues were removed. Biochemical measurements in liver tissue were carried out using a spectrophotometer. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S transferase activities, total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity, superoxide dismutase, non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity, superoxide dismutase activities and Zn level in the Zn-deficient group were significantly lower than those of the control group, whereas malondialdehyde level was significantly higher than those of the control group. Slightly increased non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity was not significantly different from the controls. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that Zn-deficiency causes a decrease in antioxidant defence system and an increase in oxidative stress in liver tissue in rats.