Replacing ZnSO4 with Zn-glycine in the diet of goat promotes the pancreatic function of the offspring

Zinc supplementation in the diet of goats affects pancreas development in offspring. However, the impact of maternal inorganic and organic zinc supplementation in offspring is poorly defined. In this study, 14 late-pregnant goats were assigned at random to the zinc sulfate group (ZnSO4, n = 7) and the zinc-glycine chelate group (Zn-Gly, n = 7), respectively. Serum samples and pancreas tissue were collected from kids whose mothers were fed ZnSO4 and Zn-Gly at the late pregnancy, respectively. Histologic examination showed no morphologic differences between the 2 groups. Pancreatic zinc content in kids tended to be increased when replacing ZnSO4 with Zn-Gly. The serum insulin concentration was greater and glucagon less in the Zn-Gly group when compared to the ZnSO4 group. The activities of lipase and chymotrypsin were enhanced when replacing ZnSO4 with Zn-Gly. Proteomics results showed that 234 proteins were differentially expressed between the 2 groups, some of which were associated with the secretion of insulin, enzyme activity and signal transduction. The results suggested that supply of dietary Zn-Gly to goats during late pregnancy promoted pancreatic function in offspring compared with dietary ZnSO4 supplementation. This provides new information about pancreatic function when supplementing different zinc sources in the diets of late pregnant goats.