Impaired glucose tolerance in copper-deficient rats
Hassel, C.A.; Marchello, J.A.; Lei, K.Y.
Journal of Nutrition 113(5): 1081-1083
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 6842302 Document Number: 213171
A total of 48 male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were given a diet deficient or adequate in copper. Deionized water and diet were provided freely. After 5 weeks, the rats were starved for 18 h, anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitol and given by vein glucose (1 g/kg bodyweight in a 50% w/vol solution). Six rats from each group were killed at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose injection. Liver Cu was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Reduction in liver Cu content and increase in heart weight confirmed that the rats fed on the test diet were Cu-deficient. Plasma glucose values in Cu-deficient rats were significantly higher at 30 and 60 min compared to controls. After 2 h there were no significant differences between treatments. Plasma insulin concentration measured by radioimmunoassay were significantly lower at 30 min, but higher at 60 and 120 min in rats fed on the test diet than in controls. It would thus appear likely that Cu deficiency interferes with normal glucose utilization.