Abstract
Summary
The activities of LDH and MDH were evaluated in the testes of zincdeficient and control rats by both spectrophotometric and histochemical methods. There was no significant decrease in the activities of these enzymes by either method in the testes of rats fed the zinc-deficient ration for 28 days as compared with rats fed the zincsupplemented diet ad libitum or in restricted amounts. Histological changes were observed in the testes of zinc-deficient rats consisting of decreased tubule size, spermatogonic arrest, nuclear chromatolysis in spermatids and secondary spermatocytes, and pyknotic epithelial cells. The testes of restricted or ad libitum-fed controls appeared normal. The evidence presented does not support the hypothesis that reduced activity of these enzymes is a primary cause of the physiological and morphological changes observed in zinc deficiency.
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