Koller L D, Mulhern S A, Frankel N C, Steven M G, Williams J R
Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 May;45(5):997-1006. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/45.5.997.
Rat pups maintained on copper (Cu)-adequate (6ppm), Cu-deficient (2 ppm) or Cu-depleted (0 ppm) diets from parturition were killed at 8-wk. Liver Cu and serum-ceruloplasmin levels confirmed that on the 0- and 2-ppm diets, a Cu-deficient state was induced. Although body weight was unaffected by the deficiency, the liver, heart, and thymus weights (% body weight) were altered. Hepatomegaly occurred in females fed 0-ppm Cu and males fed 2-ppm Cu. Heart weights increased in both sexes fed 0-ppm Cu. Thymus weights decreased in male rats fed 0-ppm Cu. Antibody titers and natural killer-cell cytotoxicity were markedly suppressed in the animals fed 0-ppm Cu. Male rats given 2-ppm Cu showed reduced antibody titer. Delayed-type hypersensitivity and prostaglandin E2 levels were not significantly affected. These studies suggest that certain components of the immune system are Cu dependent.
从分娩起就分别喂食含适量铜（6ppm）、缺铜（2ppm）或低铜（0ppm）日粮的幼鼠在8周龄时被处死。肝脏铜含量和血清铜蓝蛋白水平证实，喂食0ppm和2ppm日粮会导致缺铜状态。虽然体重不受缺铜影响，但肝脏、心脏和胸腺的重量（占体重的百分比）发生了变化。喂食0ppm铜的雌性大鼠和喂食2ppm铜的雄性大鼠出现肝肿大。喂食0ppm铜的雌雄大鼠心脏重量均增加。喂食0ppm铜的雄性大鼠胸腺重量降低。喂食0ppm铜的动物抗体滴度和自然杀伤细胞细胞毒性明显受到抑制。喂食2ppm铜的雄性大鼠抗体滴度降低。迟发型超敏反应和前列腺素E2水平未受到显著影响。这些研究表明，免疫系统的某些成分依赖于铜。
