Thirty six weanling male rats fed a vitamin D-deficient diet, were divided into three groups and each of them were supplemented with 0, 5000 or 30000 IU.kg-1.w-1 of vitamin D3, respectively. In three weeks feeding, increments of body weight and tissue weight were not significantly different among the 3 groups. The zinc contents of plasma, liver and kidney of rats in the supplemented groups and the zinc content of testis in vitamin D3 5000 IU.kg-1.w-1 group were significantly higher than that of rats in the group without supplement. But there was no significant differance between the zinc levels of prostate and tibia in all groups. The results showed that the nutrition state of vitamin D could influence the zinc level of blood and tissues.

The absorption of zinc was studied with feeding method in rats. The zinc absorption of the castrated rat (44.21 ? 1.88%, x?SE) was significantly lower than that of the sham-operated rat (49.44?1.17%). The zinc absorption of the rat injected testosterone propionate (20 mg/kg, q.d.alt.) returned to the level of the sham-operated rat (49.13 ?1.88%). The results suggested that androgen could promote the absorption of zinc.