Exogenously administered
zinc compounds have been shown to possess anti-
ulcer activity against a wide variety of ulcerogenic agents, both in laboratory animal models and in human
peptic ulcer disease. However, a strong possibility exists that endogenous
zinc may also play an important role during noxious events by various mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to focus on the changes of endogenous
zinc serum and tissue concentrations in
cysteamine-induced duodenal lesions. We used atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the tissue and serum concentrations of
zinc in normal (control) rats and those with
cysteamine-induced
duodenal ulcers. The results obtained in this study indicated that the onset, development and
spontaneous healing of
ulcer lesions were associated with certain shifts in
zinc serum and tissue concentrations. Prior to
ulcer formation, a significant increase was noted in serum
zinc values. With the onset of duodenal lesions,
zinc serum concentrations significantly decreased, while there was a significant increase in duodenal tissue concentrations when compared to healthy control animals.
Zinc tissue concentrations decreased and returned to starting values by the end of the first week of
spontaneous healing. This decrease in
zinc tissue concentration corresponded to the healing rate of the
duodenal ulcers. Serum
zinc concentrations also returned to starting values within the first week period. These observations indicate and confirm that
zinc could play an important role in
duodenal ulcer disease and represent a natural defense system in the body.