Postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase in copper-deficient rats.

Postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase has been investigated in male sprague-Dawley rats fed a diet deficient in copper. Deficiency was verified by the detection of anemia, hypercholesterolemia and decreased myocardial copper. Three experiments were done; they showed significant decrease in enzyme activity (40-47% reduction) in deficiency. Copper may be required for the formation of the activator complex of the enzyme. Decreased lipoprotein lipase activity may be responsible for the hypertriglyceridemia of copper deficiency, and that may also explain its hypercholesterolemia.