Effects of zinc on epithelial barrier properties and viability in a human and a porcine intestinal cell culture model

► The effects of zinc on porcine and human intestinal epithelial cells are studied. ► Transepithelial resistance, viability tests and Hsp70 as stress marker are analyzed. ► High concentrations of zinc cause differentiation-dependent damage to cells. ► Hsp70 expression and viability parameters are more affected by zinc than TEER. ► Porcine IPEC-J2 cells are more sensitive to zinc than human Caco-2 cells.