Excretion of Intravenously Injected Copper‐64 in Sheep

Abstract

64Cu was injected i.v. into 3 sheep. The total excretion of Cu in sheep was low since only 1.4-1.7% of the dose injected was excreted during a period of 60 h following the injection. The biliary system was not a main excretory pathway for Cu; other routes of excretion into the gastrointestinal tract seemed more important. Urinary and biliary excretion were of comparable magnitude. Bile activity was lower than in the plasma throughout the sampling period. A low excretion capacity of Cu in the bile of sheep may be important for the high susceptibility of this species to excess Cu.