Localization of Cu64 in Serum Fractions Following Oral Administration: An Alteration in Wilson's Disease

Abstract

The admn. of Cu64 by mouth to the rat resulted in an immediate uptake of the Cu by the albumin fraction of serum as indicated by expts. employing zone electrophoresis for the separation of the serum. Later the Cu shifted to the major Cu protein in rat serum, which has the approx. mobility of an alpha globulin. The admn. of Cu64 by mouth to normal subjects and patients with cirrhosis of the liver also resulted in an immediate uptake of Cu by the serum albumin fraction. The radioactivity shifted within a few hrs. to the alpha a globulin, ceruloplasmin, the major Cu protein in human serum. When radioactive Cu was admn. to patients with Wilson''s disease, the radioactivity was confined to the albumin peak and little or no localization of the Cu to the alpha2 globulin fraction occurred.