Objectives The aim of the present work was to study the antioxidative effect of zinc sulphate on liver of ApoE-knockout mice fed with high fat diet.

Methods Thirty male ApoE-deficient mice at 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups, including atherosclerotic model group (n=10), low-dose group (n=10), high-dose group (n=10), and with 10 male wild-type C57BL/6J mice as a control group. All the mice were fed with high fat diet for 14 weeks. The control group and atherosclerotic model group mice drank deionised water, and both low-dose group and high-dose group mice drank 2.5mmol/l and 25mmol/l zinc sulphate respectively. The body weight, the liver/weight index, liver function, antioxidant capacity and metallothionein-1 mRNA level of liver were determined.

Results he body weight and weight gain of low-dose group and high-dose group mice were significantly lower than the other two groups (p<0.05), the liver/weight index of control group remarkably lower than the other three groups (p<0.05). The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of low-dose group and high-dose group mice significantly lower than the other two groups (p<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase of low-dose group and high-dose group mice significantly higher than the other two groups (p<0.05), but the malondialdehyde (MDA) of low-dose group and high-dose group mice significantly lower than the other two groups (p<0.05). The metallothionein-1 mRNA level of liver in high-dose group mice significantly higher than atherosclerotic model group mice (p<0.05).

Conclusions This study demonstrates that zinc sulfphte could markedly decrease the body weight and weight gain in ApoE-knockout mice fed with high fat diet. It also could improve the antioxidant capacity and serum ALT and AST of liver in ApoE-knockout mice. In addition, metallothionein may play active role in the process of antioxidation.