Relationships between haemoglobin type and copper concentrations in whole blood and its components in sheep of different breeds

Abstract

SUMMARY Copper concentrations were determined in whole blood, plasma and caeruloplasmin and calculated for red cells and non-caeruloplasmin copper in plasma in 215 female sheep, 9 months old, belonging to the Scottish Blackface, Cheviot and Welsh Mountain breeds of sheep and their crosses. Copper determinations were also made on red cells and plasma, and calculated for whole blood, of a contemporary group of 107 female sheep of the same breeds at the age of 4 years. Further, plasma copper concentrations were determined for these 107 sheep from samples taken on several occasions some years earlier. Within breed, sheep of type Hb B had significantly higher levels of copper than sheep of type Hb A in whole blood and most of the blood components. The biggest differences were found in plasma and were 19 ng/100 ml for one group and 37 Jig/100 ml for the other. Type Hb AB sheep were intermediate in copper level. The differences in plasma copper level associated with Hb type were present and of similar magnitude at different ages, seasons and average flock levels of copper. After adjustment for the effects of Hb type, breed differences in copper levels were significant for whole blood and all components but much less pronounced for red cells than for plasma. Copper levels in plasma and red cells were only moderately correlated (r = 0·23–0·40). Combined evidence suggests the existence of a gene with a marked effect on copper level which is linked to the locus for Hb type.