EFFECT OF COPPER-SULFATE ON EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Serum copper concentration increases significantly (p < 0.01) in rats with experimental atherosclerosis compared to a control group. The ser um zinc, the zinc, and copper concentration in abdominal aorta and in liver decreases significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the control group . Administration of copper sulfate for 100 d in these animals induces a significant increase of serum copper (p < 0.01), decrease of serum c holesterol (p < 0.05) and increase of liver copper concentration as co mpared with the group fed only a high cholesterol diet. In the aorta o f these animals the copper concentration increases and edema and lipid infiltration are considerably less than in the group of animals fed o nly a high lipid diet.