The reduced serum levels of Zn, Cu and Se in UNX rats might be due to the decreased renal tubular reabsorption (Damianaki et al., 2020; Makhlough et al., 2015), renin–angiotensin system activation (Thomas et al., 2007) and hypoalbuminaemia (Makhlough et al., 2015). This evidence concerns the gene REN and Hypoalbuminemia.