title: Immune dysfunction in rats fed a diet deficient in copper.
abstract: Rat pups maintained on copper (Cu)-adequate (6ppm), Cu-deficient (2 ppm) or Cu-depleted (0 ppm) diets from parturition were killed at 8-wk. Liver Cu and serum-ceruloplasmin levels confirmed that on the 0- and 2-ppm diets, a Cu-deficient state was induced. Although body weight was unaffected by the deficiency, the liver, heart, and thymus weights (% body weight) were altered. Hepatomegaly occurred in females fed 0-ppm Cu and males fed 2-ppm Cu. Heart weights increased in both sexes fed 0-ppm Cu. Thymus weights decreased in male rats fed 0-ppm Cu. Antibody titers and natural killer-cell cytotoxicity were markedly suppressed in the animals fed 0-ppm Cu. Male rats given 2-ppm Cu showed reduced antibody titer. Delayed-type hypersensitivity and prostaglandin E2 levels were not significantly affected. These studies suggest that certain components of the immune system are Cu dependent.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mulhern
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Steven
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D003300:Copper; D015232:Dinoprostone