Hypertension in the Wistar-Kyoto rat as a result of post-weaning copper restriction

Abstract

Wistar rats were fed either a copper adequate diet (18 μg/g, Group AC) or a copper deficient diet (0.7 μg/g, Group NC) from 5 weeks to 20 weeks of age. Group NC rats had decreased liver copper levels compared to Group AC rats, but were not as low as previously reported on rats fed copper deficient diets from weaning. Signs of copper deficiency such as change in serum cholesterol, body weight, heart weight, hematocrit or hemoglobin were not observed. However, Group NC rats exhibited increased systolic blood pressure relative to Group AC rats beginning at 11 weeks of age until 20 weeks. These data are in contrast to other studies in which hypotension was observed in rats fed copper restricted diets at or prior to weaning. Apparently institution of copper restriction at a later point in the life cycle may produce hypertension.