Copper metabolism in LEC rats aged 30 and 80 days old: induction of Cu-metallothionein and status of zinc and iron.

In 30- and 80-day-old LEC rats, hepatic Cu and Cu-metallothionein (MT) concentrations were much higher than those in control Fischer rats. The gross deposition was accompanied with enhancements of Zn and Fe concentrations. In LEC rats, more than half of the hepatic Cu was located in the cytosol fraction. Most of cytosolic Cu was bound to MT. In organs other than the liver, sharp depositions of Cu were not found. Both groups of LEC rats showed significantly low serum Cu concentrations and ceruloplasmin activity. The great accumulation of hepatic Cu with the increase of age is due to the inherent depression of the release of Cu from the liver. The deposition may be closely related to the onset of the sudden hepatitis observed in LEC rats.