Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T17:31:37.595Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Blood copper as an indicator of copper status with a note on serum proteins and leucocyte counts in copper-deficient rats*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

I. E. Dreosti
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South Africa
G. V. Quicke
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South Africa
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Albumin, α1-, α2-, β- and γ-globulin fractions were demonstrated in serum from control and copper-depleted rats, but no quantitative difference was found in the distribution of the proteins between the two groups of animals. Both the total number of leucocytes and the number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes increased during copper depletion.

2. Plasma copper content was found to be superior to whole blood copper content as an index of the copper status of rats at intermediate stages of depletion. The copper content of erythrocytes was found to be unaffected even in the severely depleted animals; this explains, in part, the poor response of whole blood copper content to intermediate stages of depletion.

3. A single dose of orally administered copper was reflected in the plasma copper content of depleted rats about 12 h after dosing. No similar rise was observed in control animals, and the extent of the response was not increased by increasing the dose of copper.

4. It is suggested that plasma copper response to a single oral dose of copper sulphate may provide a useful method for the detection of subnormal copper status in individual farm animals without the necessity of determining breed norms.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1968

References

Boddie, G. F. (1950). Diagnostic Methods in Veterinary Medicine, 3rd ed. London: Oliver and Boyd Ltd.Google Scholar
Coulson, C. B., Davies, P. J. & Evans, W. C. (1960). J. comp. Path. 70, 199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dempsey, H., Cartwright, G. E. & Wintrobe, M. M. (1958). Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 98, 520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deutsch, H. F. & Goodloe, M. B. (1945). J. biol. Chem. 161, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreosti, I. E. & Quicke, G. V. (1966). S. Afr. J. agric. Sci. 9, 365.Google Scholar
Espinosa, E. (1961). Biochim. biophys. Acta 48, 445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farris, E. J. & Griffith, J. Q. (1963). The Rat in Laboratory Investigation, 2nd ed. New York: Hafner Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Gubler, C. J., Lahey, M. E., Cartwright, G. E. & Wintrobe, M. M. (1953). J. clin. Invest. 32, 405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, C. H. (1944). J. Am. chem. Soc. 66, 1795.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, D. H., Levin, L. & Leathem, J. H. (1944). J. biol. Chem. 153, 349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smithies, O. (1955). Biochem. J. 61, 629.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smithies, O. (1959). Biochem. J. 71, 585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Underwood, E. J. (1962). Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition, 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press Inc.Google Scholar
van der Grift, J. (1955). The Copper Content in Liver and Blood Serum of Fresian Cattle. Verslagen van Landbouwkundige Ondersoekingen, No. 61.10: Rykslandbouwproefstation, Hoorn, Holland.Google Scholar
van Rensburg, S. W. J. (1961). Fmg S. Afr. 36, no. 12, p. 50.Google Scholar
Wintrobe, M. M., Cartwright, G. E. & Gubler, C. J. (1953). J. Nutr. 50, 395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar