Histological Studies of the Tissues of Rats Fed a Diet Extremely Low in Zinc

Abstract

In rats fed a diet adequate in all known respects except extremely low in zinc content, specific pathological changes were noted in the oesophagus, and to a lesser extent in the buccal cavity and the skin, and in a few animals, in the cornea. The oesophagus showed extreme parakeratosis with a thick layer of partially keratinized cells. The skin showed hyperkeratinization, thickening of the epidermis and loss of hair follicles with persistence of the sebaceous glands. Secondary bacterial infection occurred later. The cornea of two animals showed vascularization and leucocytic infiltration similar to that which has been described in riboflavin deficiency. These ocular changes may indicate that zinc deficiency impairs the absorption or utilization of riboflavin.