Copper deficiency and copper toxicity in the rat.

OWEN, CHARLES A., JR., and JANE B. HAZELRIG. Copper deJi&nc~ and copper toxicify in the rat. Am. J, Physiol. 215(Z) : 334-338. I968.-Changes in metabolism of an intravexmusly injected tracer dose of 64Cu were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to copper loading, by addition of cupric acetate to the drinking water, or made copper deficient, by use of a milk-powder diet and copper-free water. In the copperdeficient rats, hepatic copper conservation became evident within the first few weeks on the regimen; biliary excretion of copper and 6”Cu and plasma oxidase and copper levels promptly decreased. Hepatic copper content decreased only slowly. In copper-laden rats, hepatic copper content increased to high levels but release of biliary 6%~ and ceruloplasmin6%~ by the liver decreased sharply. Urinary excretion of copper increased. In these respects, the copper-laden rat superficially simulates patients with Wilson’s disease.