[Importance of copper in respiratory distress syndrome in newborn rats].
To investigate the effect of copper-deficiency on Respiratory Distress Syndrome in newborn rats, 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The animals were divided at random into 3 groups of 10: The copper-deficient group was fed a copper-free diet from 35 days before gestation to delivery; the control group, fed a copper adequate diet and the pair-fed group was fed a limited copper adequate diet. After birth, an important percentage of the copper-deficient newborn showed symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome, such as apnoea, tachypnoea, and subcostal retraction; however, the pulmonary surfactant in the three groups did not present quantitative significant differences.
Sarricolea
M L
ML
Unidad de Investigación Pediátrica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España.
Villa-Elízaga
I
I
Monreal
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D003300:Copper