Biochemical and pathological changes in tissues of Friesian cattle during the experimental induction of copper deficiency

Sudden infant death syndrome: congenital copper deficiency

A previous paper describes specific respiratory toxins likely to be associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This paper describes ultrastructural abnormalities in the lung and other tissues in congenital copper deficiency. Congenital copper deficiency is associated with tissue anoxia defects in the development of myelin through a failure of phospholipid synthesis. Phospholipid is part of the membrane structure of cells. The paucity of elastin is attributed to a loss of lysyl oxidase activity. Hypoventilation is considered a feature of SIDS.

Observations on the pancreas of cattle deficient in copper

Lesions were found in the pancreas of clinically normal cattle of low copper status. In comparison with the pancreas of cattle with normal hepatic copper reserves, the abnormalities were an increase in the dry matter content and reduction in the concentrations of protein and copper in the wet tissue. Cytochrome oxidase activity and protein-to-RNA ratio were also reduced. Histologically, there were defects in acinar basement membranes, splitting and disorganization of acini, cellular atrophy and dissociation, and stromal proliferation. The pancreatic ductular system did not show atrophy or disorganization.

The influence of dietary iron and molybdenum on copper metabolism in calves

1. Twenty heifer calves were allocated to four groups and maintained for 32 weeks on a diet based mainly on barley and straw and containing 4 mg copper/kg. The diet was supplemented with 0 or 800 mg iron/kg and 0 or 5 mg molybdenum/kg. 2. Liver and plasma Cu concentrations, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and plasma caeruloplasmin (EC 1.16.3.1) activities decreased greatly and rapidly in all calves given the Fe or Mo supplements or both. Levels indicative of severe Cu deficiency were attained within 16 weeks. There were no significant differences in values in animals given Fe, Mo or Fe plus Mo. 3. Clinical signs of Cu deficiency developed after 20 weeks in the calves given the Mo supplement. Growth rates were reduced, skeletal lesions developed and hair texture and colour were affected. No such effects were observed in the calves given only the Fe supplement. 4. Plasma and liver Fe concentrations increased in calves given the Fe supplement but were not greatly affected by Mo, even when the calves were severely Cu-deficient. 5. The significance of the effects of Fe and Mo on Cu metabolism are discussed with special regard to the influence of soil ingestion on Cu availability and to the frequent lack of correlation between the Cu status of animals and their clinical condition.

Vitamin B and copper supplementation in beef calves

Bodyweight responses to subcutaneous injections of vitamin B12 and copper were investigated using Hereford calves in the southeast of South Australia, an area known to produce cobalt and copper deficient sheep. Calves were allocated to one of four groups: control; copper; vitamin B12; copper plus vitamin B12. Responses in bodyweight gain to vitamin B12, and to copper were obtained during the trial of one year. The results of biochemical analysis of blood, hair and faeces from calves and of dam's milk are reported. It is concluded that calves raised on cobalt-deficient pastures will require cobalt or vitamin B12 supplementation prior to weaning.

Noradrenaline concentrations in gut muscle and mucosa of the copper-deficient steer and rat

1. Noradrenaline (NA) concentrations in the duodenum and colon of copper-deficient and Cu-adequate steers and rats were determined. 2. In Cu-deficient steers exhibiting diarrhoea, there were significant decreases (P less than 0.05) in duodenal and colonic muscle NA concentrations. Duodenal and colonic mucosal NA concentrations in the steer were also diminished by Cu deficiency but this effect was not statistically significant. 3. Rat intestinal musculature had a higher NA concentration than that of the steer. Rat duodenal muscle NA was not influenced by Cu deficiency, but increased markedly with age. 4. It is suggested that the decline in NA concentration of cattle musculature in copper deficiency may have a role to play in the aetiology of diarrhoea in such animals.

[Investigations of anemia of male rearing calves. 4. Relations between weight at birth, duration of keeping and increase of the ive weight in the period of the calves being fed on colostrum as well as the count erythrocytes in the weaning period of the calves]

With 195 male rearing calves which received concentrates ad libitum beside fluid feed with milk from their 5th day of life onward, investigations were made if and how far the characteristics of the development of the calves while they are fed on colostrum (body weight at birth, live weight increase and duration of keeping or stalling age) correlate with the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) and the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the animals on the 3rd, 28th resp. 56th day of keeping in the weaning period. There was a significant simple dependence particularly between body weight at birth, live weight increase and stalling age on the one hand and the hematologic values on the 3rd day of keeping in the weaning period on the other. A partial correlation analysis showed that the live weight increase while the calves were fed on colostrum was the main variable for all three hematologic parameters at the beginning of the weaning period of the calves. With increasing live weight, Hb, Hc and MCHC were diminished. This analysis was supplemented by the results of a cross--section investigation of the development of the milk and concentrate consumption and the Fe-intake of the calves fed on colostrum. The calculation of the Fe-balance showed that the mere ad libitum supply with feed supplements rich in Fe cannot prevent Fe-deficiency. Anaemia developing in the first month of the calves' lives is not a physiologic one but essentially caused by Fe-deficiency.