Copper deficiency alters plasma pool size, percent composition and concentration of lipoprotein components in rats

Article Abstract:

Diets with and without copper were fed to two groups of Sprague-Dowley rats for a period of seven weeks to determine the effects of copper deficiency on plasma lipoprotein components. The apoprotein components of lipoproteins were measured. VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) particle size increaseddue to enhanced triglyceride uptake. However, protein and phosphate levels decreased. LDL (low density lipoproteins) showed an increase in both size and number with an elevated lipid to protein ratio. HDL (high density lipoprotein) showed an increase in particle number, although particle size was constant.

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Dietary arginine deficiency alters flux of glutamine and urea cycle intermediates across the portal-drained viscera and liver of rats

Article Abstract:

A study was done on the effects of dietary arginine deficiency on glutamine and urea cycle across the portal-drained viscera and liver of rats. Results show that production of citrulline by the rat intestine was not altered significantly by feeding, the absence of arginine in the diet or the presence of additional glutamate. The liver takes up 13% of the cirulline produced by the intestines and only citrulline released from, or bypasses the liver is available for net arginine synthesis. These results suggest that the liver does not contribute to the circulating citrulline pool.

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Iron deficiency alters DMBA-induced tumor burden and natural killer cell cytotoxicity in rats

Article Abstract:

The influence of iron deficiency on the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells is investigated in rats fed graded amounts of iron and injected with the carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz-a-anthracene (DMBA). Test animals were sacrificed one to several weeks after DMBA challenge and NK cell activity and tumor prevalence were assessed. Results showed that moderate iron deficiency reduces NK cell cytotoxicity and increases the incidence of tumor. On the other hand, severe iron deficiency impaired NK cells but did not increase tumor incidence as much as moderate iron deficiency had.

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