Changes in the hepatic copper content after treatment with foreign compounds

Abstract

The effects of dimercaprol, CaNa2EDTA, D-penicillamine, diethyldithiocarbamate, disulfiram, pyrazole and phenobarbital on the hepatic copper content were studied. Adult male albino rats were given these compounds subcutaneously or intragastrically for 4 or 7 days, and the copper content in the hepatic crude homogenate was measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The metal chelating compounds dimercaprol, D-penicillamine and diethyldithiocarbamate only slightly decreased the level of copper in the liver. CaNa2EDTA caused no change in the copper content. A slight decrease was found also after phenobarbital treatment. In contrast, disulfiram and pyrazole increased the copper content 3- and 2-fold, respectively. It is suggested that the accumulation of copper in the liver is due to the cholestatic action of disulfiram and pyrazole.