Copper-deficient Rats have Altered Plasma Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and Spleen Catecholamine Levels.

Perinatal copper (Cu) deficiency was produced in month old female and male Sprague Dawley rats by beginning low Cu treatment at day 7 of gestation and continuing throughout lactation. Offspring were maintained on the treatment of their dams from postnatal day 21-30. Compared to Cu-adequate rats Cu-deficient rats of both genders were smaller, had increased heart/body weight and lower liver copper levels. Plasma and spleen catecholamine levels were measured by HPLC. Plasma dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels, a dopamine (DA) metabolite, were higher in Cu-deficient females and males. Spleen norepinephrine (NE) was lower in Cu-deficient males and spleen DA was higher in both females and males compared to controls. Postnatal Cu deficiency was also studied in 54-day old male Holtzman rats after 5 weeks of dietary treatment. Cu-deficient males had higher plasma DOPAC, lower spleen NE, higher spleen DA, and higher spleen dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) content, an NE metabolite. Plasma DOPAC data are consistent with higher tissue levels of DA and limiting dopamine-β-monooxygenase activity (DBM) in Cu-deficient rats. Lower tissue NE might also be due to lower DBM activity. Plasma DHPG, which was not altered, and spleen DHPG, which was elevated by Cu deficiency, do not support lower NE synthesis in Cu deficiency. Plasma DOPAC might be useful to assess nutritional Cu status.