Effects of the relationship between ⁶⁵Zn and blood cells. A dynamic and morphological study

A. Vera-Gil¹, M.J. Pérez Castejón², J. Whyte¹, A. Cisneros¹, P. Recreo¹, M.A. Gascón¹, A. Whyte³, M. Lahoz¹ and M.C. Pérez Castejón<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Medicine Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, ²Institute of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty, University of Madrid, Madrid, and ³Department of Animal Pathology, School of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

Offprint requests to: Prof. A. Vera-Gil, M.D, Ph.D., Departamento de Anatomía e Histología Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. e-mail: avera@unizar.es


Summary. We have studied the dynamic pathway of ⁶⁵Zn and its autoradiographic location in blood cells, even at the ultra-structural level. We have found evidence that tends to confirm the old biochemical postulates about the capacity of this isotope to displace iron in the haemoglobin molecule.
Recently, the bibliography has demonstrated that ⁵⁷Co is also able to perform this displacement, but unlike ⁶⁵Zn it does not invalidate the Redox function of the molecule.
In the case of ⁶⁵Zn, the mentioned displacement invalidates this function because the radionuclide can only use valence 2. We have also contributed evidence of erythrocytes destruction by the spleen after the incorporation of ⁶⁵Zn, as well as the clearly marked degradation of haematic pigments inside the spleen. Histol Histopathol 28, 1007-1011 (2013)

Key words: Zinc, Blood cells, ⁶⁵Zn pathway, Autoradiography

DOI: 10.14670/HH-28.1007