The effect of zinc on body weight and some serum enzymes in rats

100 male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. After the adaptation period, the rats were divided into 5 equal groups. The experimental period lasted 22 days. Food and water were given ad libitum. 0 ppm. 100 ppm, 500 ppm, 1,000 ppm and 2,000 ppm zinc were given by nasogastric probe to the control, experiment-1, experiment-2, experiment-3 and experiment-4 groups respectively, on days 1, 6, 11, 16, and 21 of the experimental period. The animals were weighed and blood samples were taken on days 2, 7, 12, 17, 22 of the experimental period. AST, ALT and ALP levels in sera were determined by spectrophotometric methods. At the end of the experimental period, serum AST, ALT and ALP levels were not significantly different in the control group, but were found to be significantly increased in the other experimental groups. These increases were shown, as the oral intake of high levels of zinc are toxic for rats. Body weights were not different between the control and experimental groups.