ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of zinc on the expression of zinc transporter-7( ZnT-7) in the proliferation of the rat growth plate chondrocytes. Methods Growth plate chondrocytes were isolated from rih cartilage of Wistar rat. The cell3 were treated with zinc chelating agent N, N, N', N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl )ethylene-diamine (TPEN) of different concentration (0,5,10 and 20 μmol/L) for 12 horns. The expression of rat growth plate chondrocytes specificity collagen type Ⅱ was detected by immunohisloehemistiy. The localization of ZnT-7 was checked by immunofluorescent staining. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression level of ZNT-7 in the cell. Results The result of the immunofluorescence showed that ZnT-7 located in the Golgi apparatus. The expression level of ZnT-7 was slightly higher in the cells treated with 5 μ-mol/L TPEN than the control group, while it was lower in the cells treated with 10 or 20 μmol/L TPEN than the control group. Conclusion ZnT-7 locates in Golgi apparatus and maintains the zinc ion stabilization in the condition of the zinc depletion.