Ethane Production in Copper-Deficient Rats

摘要

Evidence is accumulating which indicates that copper-deficient animals are proneto oxidative damage. To investigate this possibility further, we measured the production of breath ethane, a hydrocarbon by-product of lipid peroxidation, in copper deficient rats. Male, weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a purified diet which was deficient in copper (CuD) or the same diet made sufficient with 5 ppm of copper (CuS). After 33 to 34 days the rats were placed individually in gastight metabolic cages through which ethane-free air of 100% O2 was passed. Expired ethane was absorbed onto cold, activated charcoal, liberated by heating, and measured by gas chromatography. This finding complements previous evidence that increased lipid peroxidation occurs in copper-deficient rats.