c-Fos expression in the parabrachial nucleus following intraoral bitter stimulation in the rat with dietary-induced zinc deficiency

•Rats fed a low-zinc diet showed symptoms of zinc deficiency.•Bitter stimuli evoked increased c-Fos expression in elPBN and emPBN in normal rats.•Increased c-Fos expression in elPBN and emPBN was reduced in zinc-deficient rats.•c-Fos in elPBN and emPBN in rescued rat became almost identical to normal rats.