Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase in copper-deficient rats.

Some groups of people with high risk of ischemic heart disease have low lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity in plasma and vice versa. Because we hypothesized a relationship between inadequate copper nutriture and the risk of ischemic heart disease, we measured plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase in copper deficient male Sprague-Dawley rats. Deficiency was verified by the presence of anemia, hypercholesterolemia and low copper concentrations in kidney and skeletal muscle. Three experiments showed a significant decrease (22-32% reduction) in enzyme activity in deficiency. Copper may be required for the synthesis of the enzyme or as a constituent of the enzyme.