The Cu concentration was about 40 times higher in the liver of LEC (Long-Evans with a cinnamon-like coat color) rats aged 77 days (227.5 +/- 21.6 micrograms/g liver) than in Fischer rats (5.2 +/- 0.1 microgram/g liver). However, in the kidney and brain of the LEC rats, Cu concentrations were lower than in these organs of the Fischer rats. Cu concentration in the hepatic metallothionein fraction was about 130 times higher in the LEC rats than in the Fischer rats. The LEC rats showed markedly low concentrations of Cu in the serum and bile. It seems likely that excretion of Cu from the liver into the bile and blood (as ceruloplasmin) is inherently lacking in the LEC rat.

No abstract

To study effects of dietary Cu and Fe levels on the onset of hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, female rats (40 days old) were fed a semipurified diet containing 0.1 or 10 mg Cu/kg and 1.5 or 150 mg Fe/kg in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement for 35 days. At 75 days after birth, LEC rats (+Cu-Fe) fed a Cu-sufficient but Fe-deficient diet (Cu, 10 mg/kg; Fe, 1.5 mg/kg) showed jaundice, with lethargy, anorexia, and malaise. The biochemical variables relating to liver function were significantly increased compared to three other groups, a Cu- and Fe-deficient (-Cu-Fe) group, a Cu-deficient but Fe-sufficient (-Cu+Fe) group, and a Cu and Fe sufficient (+Cu+Fe) group. Furthermore, the +Cu-Fe rat liver showed massive necrosis with huge nuclei. The other three groups presented no biochemical and histological findings of hepatitis. Hepatic Cu and metallothionein concentrations were 289 +/- 87 (mean +/- SD) microg/g liver and 8.7 +/- 1.8 mg/g liver, respectively, in the +Cu-Fe rats. However, in the +Cu+Fe group the values were 196 +/- 28 microg Cu/g liver and 10.8 +/- 1.0 mg/g liver. Hepatic Fe deposition was not influenced significantly by the dietary Cu level. The +Cu-Fe group with jaundice showed the highest free Cu concentration in the liver among the four groups, but the hepatic free Fe concentration was similar to those in the -Cu+Fe and +Cu+Fe groups. Our results indicate that an Fe-deficient diet enhances the deposition of hepatic Cu due to increased absorption of Cu from the gastrointestinal tract. This deposition stimulated the onset of hepatitis.

No abstract

Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats inherently lacking in serum ceruloplasmin (CP) activity and biliary Cu excretion were established from a closed colony of Long-Evans rats. These deficiencies, linked to a dysfunction of P-type ATPase, stimulate deposition of Cu and then of Cu metallothionein (MT) in the liver. Male LEC and Fischer rats were injected subcutaneously with Ag (AgNO3), which is an antagonist to Cu. They were operated on 24 h after the injection while under anesthesia. Total uptake of Ag into the liver was not stimulated, but its uptake into the MT fraction increased significantly in the LEC rats. Ag injection notably decreased the activity of serum CP in the Fischer rats, but not in the LEC rats. The decrease was accompanied by a reduction of serum Cu. In Fischer rat serum treated with Ag, Ag was detected mainly in the albumin region and partly in the CP fraction. In LEC rat serum, however, the Ag concentration was about 1/20 of that in the Fischer rats, and Ag was not detected in the CP fraction. Ag injection decreased the biliary excretion of Cu in the Fischer rats (0.183-0.052 microg Cu/20 min sampling), but not in the LEC rats (0.014-0.014 microg Cu/20 min sampling). On the other hand, biliary excretion of Ag was much greater in the Fischer rats (1.25 microg Ag/20 min) than in the LEC rats (0.04 microg Ag/20 min). Our results suggest that uptake of Ag into the liver is not dependent on the hepatic Cu content and status, but that biliary excretion of Ag from the liver is affected by these. Hepatic MT is not a transporter of hepatobiliary excretion of Cu and Ag. It seems likely that, unlike Cu excretion, Ag is excreted by not only the CP route but also by another route into the serum. Ag may compete with Cu in the uptake into CP (conversion of apo-CP to holo-CP).