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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Immunity and Disease Prevention Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #197449
Title: IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ZNT1, 4, 5, 6, AND 7 IN THE MOUSE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

Author
item YU, YAN - UC DAVIS, DEPT. OF NUTR.
item Kirschke, Catherine
item Huang, Liping

Submitted to: Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2006
Publication Date: 10/27/2006
Citation: Yu, Y.Y., Kirschke, C.P., Huang, L. 2006. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ZNT1, 4, 5, 6, AND 7 IN THE MOUSE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. Vol. 55(3):223-234, 2006.

Interpretive Summary: Zinc is an essential trace metal for mammals. Carries or transporters are needed for zinc to be absorbed from the gut, distributed throughout the body, and excreted from the body. We examined the presence of five zinc transporter proteins (ZnT1, 4, 5, 6, and 7) in the mouse digestive system. The small intestine is the major site for digestion of food and for absorption of the digested products. It can be divided into three segments (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) based on their anatomic appearances. The duodenum is the part of the small intestine extending from the stomach. The jejunum is the middle part of the small intestine. The ileum is 1/3 part of small intestine adjacent to the large intestine. The large intestine is composed of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. Its principal functions are to receive the undigested food from the small intestine, reabsorption of electrolytes, metal, and water and elimination of undigested food. Our study indicated that the amount of each ZnT protein in the mouse gut were different. The localization of each ZnT protein was unique but with some overlapping. ZnT1 was detected a lot in the absorptive cells in the esophagus, duodenum of the small intestine, and cecum of the large intestine. ZnT4 was predominantly detected in the large intestine. ZnT5 was mainly detected in the parietal cell (the cell that secrets acid) of the stomach and in the absorptive cells in the duodenum and jejunum. ZnT6 was predominantly detected in the chief cell (the cell that secrets digestive enzymes) of the stomach, absorptive cells in the jejunum, cecum, colon, and rectum. Lastly, ZnT7 was observed in absorptive cells along the mouse digestive system. The high levels of ZnT proteins detected in the absorptive cells in the digestive system suggest that ZnT proteins may play important roles in zinc absorption and zinc secretion in the gut.

Technical Abstract: Expression of five zinc transporters (ZnT1, 4, 5, 6, and 7) of the Slc30 family in the mouse gastrointestinal tract was studied by immunohistochemical analysis. The results demonstrated unique expression patterns, levels, and cellular localization among ZnT proteins in the mouse gastrointestinal tract with some overlapping. ZnT1 was abundantly expressed in the epithelium of the esophagus, duodenum of the small intestine, and cecum of the large intestine. ZnT4 was predominantly detected in the large intestine. ZnT5 was mainly expressed in the parietal cell of the stomach and in the absorptive epithelium of the duodenum and jejunum. ZnT6 was predominantly detected in the chief cell of the stomach, columnar epithelial cells of the jejunum, cecum, colon, and rectum. Lastly, ZnT7 was observed in all epithelia of the mouse gastrointestinal tract with the highest expression in the small intestine. The abundant expression of ZnT proteins in the absorptive epithelial cell of the gastrointestinal tract suggests that ZnT proteins may play important roles in zinc absorption and endogenous zinc secretion.