Serum copper concentration as an index of experimental lung injury

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0537-8_26· OSTI ID:6853399

Ward, W F; Molteni, A; Ts'ao, C; Ischiropoulos, H ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL (USA)

Serum copper (Cu) concentration was evaluated as an index of lung injury in two rat models of pneumotoxicity: hemithoracic irradiation and monocrotaline ingestion. In both models there was a dose- and time-dependent increase in serum Cu concentration. This hypercupremia paralleled the development of pulmonary endothelial dysfunction (decreased lung plasminogen activator activity and increased prostacyclin production) and pulmonary fibrosis (hydroxyproline accumulation). In the radiation model, lung injury and hypercupremia persisted for at least 6 months, and were spared similarly when the total dose was delivered in multiple daily fractions as compared to single doses. In irradiated rats, the elevated serum Cu concentration was accompanied by increases in plasma ceruloplasmin, lung Cu concentration, and lung Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In monocrotaline-treated rats, lung damage and hypercupremia also were accompanied by a reduction in liver Cu concentration, and by a direct correlation between the concentrations of Cu and SGOT in the serum. In both models, some but not all modifiers of lung damage (penicillamine, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, pentoxifylline) also partially prevented the insult-induced hypercupremia. In contrast, serum iron concentration was largely independent of treatment in all experiments. These data suggest that elevated serum copper concentration is an accurate and minimally invasive index of lung injury in irradiated and monocrotaline-treated rats.

• OSTI ID: 6853399
• Journal Information: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology; (USA), Vol. 258; ISSN 0065-2598
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COPPER
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
LUNGS
FIBROSIS
RADIATION INJURIES
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
ENZYME ACTIVITY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
IRRADIATION
METABOLISM
PROSTAGLANDINS
RATS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
INJURIES
MAMMALS
METALS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals