Effects of nutritional copper deficiency on adult non-pregnant and pregnant rats and their newborns
Hilário, M.O.; Amancio, O.M.; dos Santos, B.R.; Naspitz, C.K.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 41(4): 555-568
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 1841537 Document Number: 377213
From 97 days old female Wistar rats weighing 180 to 220 g were given diets severely or moderately deficient or adequate in copper (0.3, 1.2 and 5.0 g/kg, respectively). After 6 weeks some were mated and continued on the same diets during pregnancy or were switched (severely and moderately deficient to control diet; control to severely and moderately deficient diets) to other diets. Cu deficiency had no effect on weight gain or appetite in any group. Fertility, as evaluated by number of conceptuses and liveborn young, and weight of newborn young did not seem to be impaired by Cu deficiency.