Membrane and contractile properties of rat vascular tissue in copper-deficient conditions.

A Role for Dietary Copper in Nitric Oxide‐Mediated Vasodilation

“…Dietary copper deficiency produces several vascular effects which suggest that endothelial function is altered. For example, platelet-endothelial adhesion is inhibited, resulting in decreased thrombogenesis (22)(23)(24), and large vessel vasoconstrictor sensitivity to norepinephrine is increased in thoracic aortas and decreased in portal veins of copper-deficient rats (11).…”

Decreased passive stiffness of cardiac myocytes and cardiac tissue from copper-deficient rat hearts

“…Clearly, caution must be taken when findings from the aorta are generalized to the heart, because important regional differences within the heart itself in distribution of lysyl oxidase activity, as well as in collagen cross-linkages and ultrastructural morphology, have been shown (21). Also, a reduction in tensile strength of helically cut aortic strips has been reported to accompany severe copper deficiency (6).…”

Chronic Treatment With Dimethyl Sulfoxide Protects Against Cardiovascular Defects of Copper Deficiency

“…Dietary Cu deficiency produces a variety of cardiovascular defects, including structural and functional deficits of the heart and blood vessels, anemia and hypercholesterolemia (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). That some of the cardiovascular defects may be the result of oxidative damage is supported by the fact that endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin and catalase are reduced (6,7) and that enhanced tissue peroxidation occurs in Cu deficiency (8-10).…”