EFFECT OF DIETARY ZN DEFICIENCY ON 2,3-DIPHOSPHOGLYCERATE AND ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RAT ERYTHROCYTE

The effect of dietary Zn deficiency on blood concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration were determined. Weanling male rats in the zinc deficient group were fed an egg white-based diet containing < 1 mg/kg Zn for 3 weeks; control rats were either pair-fed or fed ad libitum the diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg Zn. Dietary Zn deficiency caused a significant elevation of the hematocrit compared to pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls but did not alter the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Per unit of whole blood, the feed restriction associated with dietary Zn deficiency resulted in a significant increase in 2,3 DPG and a significant decrease in ATP; per unit of packed red cells, both 2,3 DPG and ATP were significantly decreased.