Effect of zinc-chelating dipeptide on bone metabolism in weanling rats: comparison with beta-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc-related compounds.
Rats were orally administered zinc sulfate, di(histidino)-zinc (HZ), beta-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc (AHZ), and di(N-acetyl-L-alanyl-L-histidinato)-zinc (AAHZ) with the doses of 2.75 and 5.50 mg Zn/kg/day for 7 days, and 24 h later they were killed. With the dose of 2.75 mg Zn/kg/day, the administration of AHZ caused a significant increase of zinc content in the femoral diaphysis and a corresponding elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and calcium contents, but similar doses of zinc sulfate, HZ, and AAHZ did not have an appreciable effect on the enzyme activity and DNA content. Moreover, the dose of 5.50 mg Zn/kg/day with AHZ and AAHZ caused an appreciable increase in all zinc compounds observed, whereas zinc sulfate did not have the effect on bone DNA content and HZ had no effect on bone alkaline phosphatase activity. Of the various zinc-chelating dipeptides used, AHZ had a characteristic effect on bone metabolism in weanling rats. Thus, AHZ may have a pharmacological role.