Volume: 1, 2022
1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1.A017
Published online: 26 April 2022
ICDSUPL, 1, A017 (2022)
Copper in the diet of rats and neurodegenerative changes in tissues
Paweł Jurczak1*, Monika Cendrowska-Pinkosz2, Magdalena Krauze1, Jerzy Juśkierwicz3, Katarzyna Ognik1
1Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
2Chair and Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
3Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Biological Function of Food, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
* Corresponding author: pawel15033@wp.pl
Abstract
Due to the fact that Cu may occur in various chemical forms, it can be assumed that they will influence the body’s reactions in various ways, including the occurrence of neurodegenerative changes. The aim of the study was to determine whether and in what form the addition of Cu influences the level of indicators of neurodegeneration in selected rat tissues. Thirty 7-week-old healthy male Wistar albino rats were used in the study and randomized into 3 groups. Three experimental treatments were used to evaluate the effect of various levels (withaut Cu or 6.5 mg per kg of diet) and sources of Cu (carbonate or nanoparticles) in the diet on 2 months: Cu0 – rats fed with a diet without Cu supplementation; CuSALT – rats fed a diet with copper carbonate (6.5 mg per kg of diet); CuNPs – rats fed a diet with Cu nanoparticles (6.5 mg per kg of diet). In the blood serum and tissue homogenates, the level of indicators of potential neurodegenerative activity was determined, using the Elisa enzyme immunoassays. The following were analyzed: levels of acetylcholinesterase, amyloid-β, Tau protein, phosphorylated Tau protein, LRP 1 protein in rat brain, liver and plasma. Regardless of the form of added Cu, an increase in the level of acetylcholinesterase was found in the brain, liver and blood plasma of rats. The addition of both forms of copper caused a significant increase in the concentration of amyloid-β, Tau protein and Tau phosphorylated protein in the plasma compared to the diet without the addition of Cu. This relationship was not observed in the brain and liver. None of the forms of copper used increased the levels of Tau protein and phosphorylated Tau protein in the brain and liver. The lack of Cu in the diet of rats did not increase the concentration of amyloid-β in the blood and did not increase the level of Tau protein and phosphorylated Tau protein in the brain and liver. The use of copper in the form of CuNPs in the diet of rats did not increase the level of amyloid-β more than the use of the carbonate form of this element. The use of CuNPs or CuCO3 in the diet of rats advantageously increases the levels of acetylcholinesterase in the brain, liver and blood. It was not found that the addition of CuNPs in the diet of rats increased the level of acetylcholinesterase to a greater extent than Cu carbonate and that they caused a greater increase in the level of Tau protein and phosphorylated Tau protein than the carbonate forms.
How to cite
P. Jurczak, M. Cendrowska-Pinkosz, M. Krauze, J. Juśkierwicz, K. Ognik, 2022. Copper in the diet of rats and neurodegenerative changes in tissues. In: 1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1/A017