CHANGES IN COPPER DISTRIBUTION IN THE PLASMA AND KIDNEYS OF LEC RATS FOLLOWING ACUTE HEPATITIS

copper (Cu) accumulating bound to metallothionein (MT) in the liver of LEC (Long-Evans with cinnamon-like coat color) rats due to a heredita ry metabolic disorder is assumed to lead to acute hepatitis with sever e jaundice. The metal was shown to be present in the liver in a form n ot bound to MT at the beginning of hepatitis after first delivery and lactation. Following this change in the distribution of-cu from MT-bou nd to non-MT bound form in the liver, changes in the concentrations an d distributions of Cu, zinc (Zn) and iron in the plasma and kidneys of LEC rats were also observed. Cu plasma distribution on a gel filtrati on column by HPLC-ICP revealed that the holo-form of ceruloplasmin (Cp ) was present before hepatitis and increased with its development, ind icating the availability of Cu for Cp by hepatitis. Cu-binding protein s migrating at the same retention times as those of hepatic Cu-MT and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected in plasma during hepati tis. Albumin was largely present in the form of nonmercaptoalbumin, re flecting that the bloodstream was under oxidative stress. A sudden inc rease in the concentration of Cu in the kidneys occurred with hepatiti s, and the metal came to be distributed more to high molecular weight proteins with its development.