Chronic treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide protects against cardiovascular defects of copper deficiency.

Published reports indicate that Cu deficiency reduces antioxidant defenses and may result in tissue peroxidation. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a highly penetrant antiinflammatory agent and purported hydroxyl radical scavenger, was chronically fed to male, weanling Sprague-Dawley rats which were either supplemented with or deficient in Cu. DMSO was found to inhibit the cardiac hypertrophy, anemia and depression of heart Cu concentration which occurs with Cu deficiency. This suggests that the hydroxyl free radical may contribute to the cardiovascular defects caused by dietary Cu deficiency.