IMPAIRED ENDOCRINE AND EXOCRINE PANCREATIC FUNCTIONS IN COPPER-DEFICIENT RATS - THE EFFECT OF GENDER

Objective: To examine the effect of gender on endocrine and exocrine p ancreatic function in female and male rats fed from weaning a copper-d eficient diet. Methods: Weanling male and female rats were fed a coppe r-deficient or adequate diet for 4 weeks. Rats were sacrificed after a n overnight fast. Livers and pancreata were removed, weighed and the c oncentrations of copper and iron were determined. In addition, insulin was measured in pancreatic tissue and plasma. Lipase and amylase acti vities were measured in pancreas. Lipid peroxidation was assessed in l iver. Results: Copper deficiency in the male resulted in a profound re duced glandular mass of the pancreas. The pancreas contained low activ ities of lipase and amylase but excessive levels of insulin. Iron rete ntion in the pancreas of the copper-deficient male rat was greater tha n in the female counterpart. Effects of copper deficiency in female ra ts on pancreas mass and endocrine pancreas were of lesser magnitude co mpared with males. Plasma insulin in the female rat was much higher th an in the male rat. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was increased by copper deficiency in the male rat but was unaffected in the female. Conclusi ons: Data show that pancreatic atrophy is more pronounced in males com pared with females, and the endocrine pancreas of the male is more sus ceptible to dietary copper deprivation than the female rat. The greate r degree of pancreatic atrophy and associated abnormalities in males c ompared with females may be related to the greater retention of pancre atic iron and subsequent peroxidative damage.