Effect of zinc on growth hormone receptor gene expression in liver of albino rats

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out on 20 day-old albino female rats for 42 days to see the effect of zinc supplementation and zinc deficiency on expression of growth hormone receptor gene in liver tissue of albino rats. The animals were divided into three groups, viz. zinc control (ZC), zinc-supplemented (ZS) and zinc-deficient (ZD). Each group consisted of 20 animals. The ZC group received basal diet (BD) which contained zinc @ 7.80 ppm. The ZS rats were given BD (7.80 ppm), supplemented with zinc @ 32.20 ppm (total 40 ppm zinc), whereas the ZD rats received BD (7.80 ppm zinc) plus 1.3 % of calcium carbonate (to induce zinc deficiency) in the diet on dry matter basis. The animals were fed ad libitum throughout the investigation. Liver tissue collection was done on two occasions, i.e., on the 21st and 42nd day of the investigation. The relative expression of GHR gene in liver of rats was highest (2.55 ± 0.18 folds) in ZS rats (P