Copper Turnover in Blood Plasma

Abstract

Blood Cu values in rabbits are: plasma total 67.6 [mu]g%, plasma direct reacting 20.1 [mu]g%, erythrocyte 61.3 [mu]g%. Trace amounts of Cu64 injected into rabbits remain to about 4% in the plasma, 85% of this amount are alter 20 hours bound to coeruloplasmin and remain there. Traces of Cu64 bind in-vivo and in-vitro to plasma albumin. The disappearance half time of aibumin Cu labelled in vivo is after intravenous injection 38 minutes. In-vivo labelled coeruloplasmin has a half time of 34 hours. Albumin Cu turnover relates well with coeruloplasmin Cu turnover, indicating that Cu is transported by albumin. Cu is mainly stored in the liver, the muscles contain at least half as much Cu as the liver. The rabbit excretes Cu via the intestine, substantial excretion via the bile could not be found.