NUTRITIONAL COPPER DEFICIENCY DOES NOT AFFECT SPONGE GRANULOMA-FORMATION IN THE RAT

Sponge granuloma formation was compared in copper-deficient and copper-sufficient rats following feeding of respective diets for 20, 40, or 60 d. Body weight, total blood hemoglobin, and activities of ceruloplasmin and Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase in plasma were monitored to ascertain copper deficiency. Mean granuloma weights (mg±SEM) in copper-deficient and copper-sufficient groups of rats, respectively, were as follows: 37±2 and 38±2 after 20 d, 22±2 and 23±2 after 40 d, and 19±1 and 21±1 after 60 d on respective diets. Thus, nutritional copper deficiency did not have an effect on sponge granuloma formation in the rat. © 1990 Humana Press Inc.