Early changes in zinc and copper metabolism in rats with alloxan diabetes of short duration after local traumatization with heat.

Local heat trauma was induced in rats with alloxan diabetes of 3 days duration. Zinc and copper concentrations in serum, liver, heart and pancreas were estimated. After traumatization there was a decrease of the serum zinc concentration in all animals. The lowest concentration was found in the diabetic animals. Serum copper concentrations were lower both in traumatized and nontraumatized diabetic animals compared with controls. The serum copper concentration was slightly lower in traumatized compared with nontraumatized animals in both diabetic animals and controls. In the liver there was an increase of zinc and copper concentration in both groups of traumatized animals, but especially in the diabetic animals. In pancreas there was a decrease in the zinc concentration in traumatized and nontraumatized diabetic animals compared with controls.