The copper content of the liver and blood of some vertebrates.

Abstract

Determinations have been made of the concentration of copper in the blood and liver from a wide range of vertebrate species. The blood copper levels show trends which do not follow the phylogenetic relationships implied in current systems of classification. The highest levels are found in the pig (1.4 mg copper/L whole blood), and the lowest in the domestic fowl and turkey (0.23 mg/L). Marsupials show low values (0.3-0.4 mg/L), whereas in most other species the values lie between 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L. It is suggested that the usual range in an individual species represents the optimum for the physiological requirements of this species. The concentration of copper in the liver of most species lies below 50 p.p.m. copper on a dry weight basis. High values are found in the ruminant, the duck, the frog, and in certain fish. From a consideration of the data presented, it seems probable that the high liver copper level characteristic of some species is due, not to a higher intake of copper or to a greater absorption, but to a lesser ability to restrict the storage of copper in the liver. Although there is no suggestion of sex difference in liver copper levels of most species, a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) has been noted in the Australian salmon (Arripis trutta Bloch & Schneider).