Ductus arterioso persistente y estado carencial de cobre

To investigate the efects of copper-deficiency on spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus in newborn rats,an experimental model consisting in three groups of ten female Sprague-Dowley rats each was used. Group I rats,copper-deficient, were fed a copper-free diet from 35 days before pregnancy until birth. Group II, control rats,were given a diet containing appropriate amounts of copper [6 ppm) and energy. Group III, the pair-fed rats, receiv-ed a diet that was adecuate in copper content but restricted in energy to the same caloric ingestion previouslyshown by copper deprived rats. The ductus arteriosus of 10 newborn rats of each group were studied by hystologicalmethods at sometime between the third and twelfth hour of life, and it was patent in 100%, 20% and 40% of thecases of copper deprived, control and pair fed rats respectively (Chi square test, p — 0-0009)- The wall thickness ofpatent ductus from copper deprived rats were significantly lower than those from rats of the other two groups(Kruskall-Wallis Test; p = 0.0079). Our results suggest that materno-fetal copper deficiency significantly affects thespontaneous closure rate of the ductus arteriosus in the rat. The mechanism of this abnormal response probablyincludes structural changes in the ductal wall, alterations in the energy yield process or abnormal regulation ofprostaglandins E2 and F2 —asynthesis,(Key words: Patent ductus arteriosus, copper-deficiency, rats.)