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Copper Deficiency in a Genetically Hypertensive Cardiomyopathic Rat: Electrocardiogram, Functional and Ultrastructural Aspects¹

Department of Human Nutrition and Food Management ^* Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1295

The effect of copper deficiency on cardiac function and structure was studied in a strain of rats (SHHS/Mcc-cp) known to develop cardiac failure as adults. Restriction of dietary copper ( 1 mg/kg vs. 6 mg/kg in adequate diets) at weaning in both sexes for a 6-wk period produced cardiac hypertrophy. Male rats developed more severe copper-deficiency symptoms than their female counterparts. In both sexes of copper-deficient rats, there was an increase in cardiac length, width, free ventricular wall thickness and septum thickness. Electrocardiographic tracings revealed greater QRS height among male copper-deficient rats. Heart rate also was substantially reduced in this group. The increased volume of myocardium occupied by mitochondria in the copper-deficient male rats might result in increased electrical resistance that would increase the QRS height; hypertrophy or anemia also could be contributory. Some male copper-deficient rats had prolongation of the QRS in a bundle branch block pattern. Maximal rates of rise and fall for left ventricular pressure were reduced in male copper-deficient rats. The gross histology indicated that this type of heart failure was more concentric than eccentric. The copper-deficient male rat may serve as a useful model for studying the concentric cardiac hypertrophy that occurs in humans.

KEY WORDS: • SHHS/Mcc-cp corpulent rats • cardiac function • ultrastructure • copper

¹ Supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Grant No 5 R01 HL34286.

Manuscript received 30 August 1990. Revision accepted 5 December 1990.