Abstract
Activity of the cuproenzyme peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) was studied in two-month-old male Holtzman rats following dietary copper (Cu) deficiency. Compared to Cu-adequate controls, Cu-deficient rats exhibited cardiac hypertrophy (94% increase) and lower liver Cu concentrations (87% decrease). White blood cell PAM activity was not altered by dietary Cu deficiency but activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, another cuproenzyme, was lower in the same cells from Cu-deficient rats (68% decrease). Plasma PAM activity was lower in samples from Cu-deficient rats (32% decrease) compared to Cu-adequate rats. In additional studies it was found that PAM activity of serum was higher than plasma, that gender and type of anesthesia had little influence on PAM activity of plasma. Plasma but not white blood cell PAM activity is a useful indicator of Cu status.
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