Effects of zinc deficiency on lining epithelium of tongue, oesophagus and small intestine of albino rats

An experimental study was carried out in male albino rats to notice the effects of zinc deficiency on the epithelium of tongue, oesophagus and intestine. A group of 24 albino rats were offered zinc deficient diet ad libitum along with control group for 4 weeks period and observed for various clinico-pathological manifestations. In zinc deficient rats, the epithelium of tongue showed hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and acanthosis. In some cases, pseudoneoplastic type of hyperplasia was also observed. The oesophagus revealed thickening of mucosal layer due to epithelial hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis. The sections of small intestine revealed severe atrophy of villi giving club shaped appearance and covered by poorly differentiated low columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells. Congestion and leucocytic infiltration was observed in lamina propria and between the hypertrophied crypts.