Differential Effect of Cupric Ions on the In Vitro Utilization of Glucose by Blastocysts and Pancreatic Islets

Abstract

To evaluate a possible interference of cupric ions on the trophoblast cell metabolism, glucose utilization was studied in mouse blastocysts delayed in utero and later activated by oestradiol for 18 h. Isolated pancreatic islets from guinea pigs were used for comparative purposes. The pancreatic islets were not affected when the copper concentration was 0.1 mmol/l whereas for the blastocysts a marked effect was found already at a concentration of 0.01 mmol/l. This indicates that copper concentrations even lower than that of the uterine secretion in presence of a Cu-IUD might affect different enzymes linked with the glucose metabolism of the trophoblast cells.