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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #71236
Title: INCREASED PLASMA ISOPROSTANES IN RATS FED A COPPER-DEFICIENT DIET

Author
item LYNCH, SEAN - BOSTON UNIV
item FREI, BALZ - BOSTON UNIV
item MORROW, JASON - VANDERBILT UNIV
item Klevay, Leslie

Submitted to: Circulation
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: F2-isoprostanes,F2-IPs, stable in vivo oxidation products of arachidonic acid, are found in oxidized LDL, and exhibit pro-atherogic properties. To test the hypothesis that copper (Cu) is an important in vivo antioxidant nutrient we measured plasma concentrations of lipid hyproperoxides, F2-IPs, and antioxidants in Cu-adequate (CuA) and -deficient (CuD) rats. Groups (n=16) of male weanling rats were fed a diet containing all essential nutrients except Cu and zinc (Zn). Drinking solutions provided Cu (4 ppm, CuA, or 0 ppm, CuD) and Zn (10 ppm). After 6 weeks, rats were euthanized, and samples collected. CuD rats had cardiac hypertrophy (heart wt=0.42 +/-0.06 and 0.73+/-0.11 g/100g body weight for CuA and CuD rats, respectively; P<0.001), and decreased liver copper (CuA=14.4+/-4.3 ug/g dry wt, CuD=3.3+/-3.3 ug/g dry wt; P<0.001). Plasma antioxidants urate (CuA=56.6+/-30.7 uM, CuD=84.4+/-42.9 uM), ascorbate (CuA=59.8+/-33.1 uM, CuD=71.4+/-26.9 uM), alpha-tocopherol (CuA=1.26+/-0.92 uM, CuD=2.71+/-2.77 uM), and gamma-tocopherol (CuA=0.54+/-0.51 uM, CuD=0.51+/-0.42 uM) were not influenced by copper status (P>0.05). However, although no lipid hydroperoxides were detectable in plasma from either CuA or CuD rats, plasma concentrations of lipid-esterified F2-IPs were significantly (P<0.05) increased in CuD (1.72+/-0.92 nM), vs with CuA (1.09+/-1.19 nM), rats. These results show that a diet low in Cu promotes formation of potentially atherogenic lipid oxidation products (F2-IPs). In CuD rats, a statistically non-significant trend towards higher plasma concentrations of urate, ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol was noted, which might compensate for increased oxidant stress in these animals.