[Importance of copper in respiratory distress syndrome in newborn rats].

To investigate the effect of copper-deficiency on Respiratory Distress Syndrome in newborn rats, 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The animals were divided at random into 3 groups of 10: The copper-deficient group was fed a copper-free diet from 35 days before gestation to delivery; the control group, fed a copper adequate diet and the pair-fed group was fed a limited copper adequate diet. After birth, an important percentage of the copper-deficient newborn showed symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome, such as apnoea, tachypnoea, and subcostal retraction; however, the pulmonary surfactant in the three groups did not present quantitative significant differences.