Effect of single dose administration of copper as copper sulphate or copper nitrate on metabolism of copper in Black Bengal bucks

Abstract

Black Bengal bucks (6) of 14 to 16months of age were used in a switch over design to study the relative of copper from copper sulphate or copper nitrate. In vitra solubility assay showed that Cu from copper soluble than that from copper sulphate in neutral pH at room temperature and also in 0.1 NHCI at 39'C. Single oral dose, of 100 mg Cu as copper sulphate (T1) or Cu-nitrate (T2) resulted in higher faecal excretion of Cu during TI than that in T2 and reached the peak at 48 hr following the single oral dose in both the treatment periods. Plasma Cu was similar in the bucks fed with either copper sulphate or copper nitrate though a transient rise was observed up to 4 hr in T1 and 8 hr in T2. When sterile solutions of copper sulphate or copper nitrate containing 50 mg or 100 µg Cu/ml was injected intravenously no localized reaction could be noticed. Plasma Cu was not affected by the source of the copper salts though it increased as dose level of Cu was raised from 50 µg/ml to 100 µg/ml. Following administration of copper nitrate a rapid rise in plasma Cu concentration was observed and this was followed by a steep decline in the same. Copper sulphate on the other hand, sustained higher level of plasma Cu till 48 hr. The study indicated positive but short-term effects of copper sulphate and copper nitrate in elevating blood Cu concentration. It was suggested that these 2 sources of Cu might be explored with different dose levels and other possible routes of administration to rectify Cu deficiency in ruminants.