The Site of Zinc Absorption in the Rat Small Intestine

Summary Rats fed a zinc-adequate diet exhibited a nonuniform distribution of zinc in the small intestine. The zinc content of zinc-deficient rat small intestine was reduced, particularly in the duodenum and distal ileum. It is possible that the difference in the intestinal zinc content may reflect the rate of zinc absorption in the tissue. Uptake of 65Zn by intestinal segments in vitro showed that the pattern of absorption obtained is dependent upon the parameters used for quantitation. This observation could account for the variation between the results obtained by different experimental methods of determining the site and rate of absorption of the nutrient. We thank the Ontario Veterinary College for his-tological examination of the animals. This work was financed by the Ontario Department of Argiculture and Food and the National Research Council of Canada. J. H. Ernes held a N.R.C. studentship.