Zinc deficiency in female rabbits

Abstract

SUMMARYZinc deficiency was induced in recently weaned female Tan rabbits by feeding a diet containing 0·2 p.p.m. of zinc and severely limiting their access to zinc from other sources in the environment. Reduced food consumption, weight loss, lowered haematocrit leve]s, frequent appearance of alopecia and dermatosis as well as reproductive failure were observed. Histo]ogically, the uteri of the zinc-deficient rabbits were pale and inactive. The ovaries had Graafian follicles but lacked corpora ]utea despite repeated attempts to mate the females.

Changes in copper and zinc plasma concentrations during the normal menstrual cycle in women

“…Zinc deficiency in female rabbits resulted, according to a study, in disinterest in their male counterparts and in failure of ovulation [26]. Another study demonstrated that Zn deficiency could lead to abnormal estrous cycles in female rats [27].…”

Zinc and skin biology

“…Although alopecia has been documented in dietary ZD AE mouse [67], rat [68,69], and rabbit [70] models, none of these models have shown the mechanism of alopecia in AE. In summary, although Zn deficiency appears to drive the hair cycle to telogen effluvium and to induce abnormal hair keratinization, the underlying mechanism, even in AE animal models, is still unknown (Fig.…”

Zinc Depletion Causes Multiple Defects in Ovarian Function during the Periovulatory Period in Mice

“…In females, dietary zinc deficiency causes developmental problems throughout pregnancy (28 -30). Prolonged zinc deficiency in rabbits causes decreased mating frequency and lack of corpus luteum (CL) formation (31). Recently, a role for zinc in the completion of meiosis I was demonstrated in vitro (32)(33)(34).…”