Radiation and Wound Healing: Influence of Dietary Methionine and Zinc on Zinc-65 Distribution and Excretion in the Rat

Abstract

The effects of 800 rads of total -body irradiation on distribution and excretion of intraperitoneally injected Zn65C12 in rats fed diets containing: (1) methionine at 20 mg/gm, (2) zinc at 0.133 mg/gm, (3) methionine at 20 mg/gm + zinc at 0.133 mg/gm, or (4) a basal (control) diet were studied. Alterations in zinc metabolism were observed. Radiozinc retention in regenerating wound tissue of irradiated rats of the methionine + zinc group was significantly elevated, but no alterations in the rate of wound healing, as determined by collagen formation, were seen. Evidence is presented which suggests initial impairment of zinc excretory function by irradiation followed by recovery or partial recovery in all groups, but to a lesser degree in the kidneys of rats fed high-methionine diets.