title: Aspects of cardiomyopathy in copper-deficient pigs. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, and ultrastructural findings.
abstract: Pigs were made copper (Cu)-deficient to evaluate cardiac function and pathology, and electrocardiography. Fifteen-day-old pigs were fed a Cu-restricted diet over an 8 wk period and compared to Cu-adequate diet-fed pigs. Cardiac effects were examined concerning gross morphometry and ultrastructure, echocardiography, and electrocardiography, as well as serum cholesterol levels. The Cu-restricted diet-fed pigs exhibited a marked deceleration of growth and lower hematocrit, hemoglobin, and liver and serum Cu concentrations compared to the Cu-adequate diet-fed pigs. The Cu-restricted diet-fed pigs developed a significantly greater heart weight:body weight ratio, along with greater diastolic measures of ventricular wall and internal dimension relative to body weight. Electrocardiography in the Cu-restricted diet-fed pigs revealed one instance of electrical alternans and an intraventricular conduction disturbance and several instances of T-wave inversion. The Cu-restricted pigs also displayed a prolonged QT interval at the closure of study. Increased mitochondrial volume density and mitochondria:myofibril volume density ratio were observed in the Cu-restricted pig electron micrographs along with excessive lipid and glycogen inclusion and focal degradation of Z-lines, intercalated disk, and sarcomeres. Copper-restriction in young pigs results in cardiac pathology and electrical disturbances. These alterations are similar to those reported for young Cu-restricted rodents. Given then that many cardiac manifestations of developed Cu-deficiency appear conserved across specie lines, the potential for human disturbances in response to severe Cu-deficiency may be plausible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Food Management, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1295, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hamlin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stills
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bonagura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D013552:Swine; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D003300:Copper; D006003:Glycogen; D002784:Cholesterol; D015032:Zinc