Cholesterol and copper in the liver of rabbit inbred strains with differences in dietary cholesterol response

In order to investigate whether cholesterol intake influences the hepatic copper content of rabbits, we compared the hepatic copper content of two rabbit inbred strains after feeding the animals a control or a cholesterol-rich diet. One strain was not reactive to dietary cholesterol (IIIVO/JU), whereas the other strain was reactive to dietary cholesterol (AX/JU). The coefficient of inbreeding (F) >0.95 for both strains. Dietary cholesterol-reactive rabbits when compared with their non-reactive counterparts had a higher hepatic copper content. The consumption of a hypercholesterolemic diet decreased liver copper concentration (expressed in micro g/g dry weight) in both strains of rabbits, which was (in part) due to dietary-induced hepatomegaly. A decrease in the absolute hepatic copper content was found only in the dietary cholesterol-reactive inbred strain. It is discussed that differences in glucocorticoid levels may be responsible for the strain difference in liver copper content. The cholesterol effect on the hepatic copper content in the reactive strain might be caused by an increased bilirubin secretion.