Ceruloplasmin as an Indicator of Copper Reserves in Wild Ruminants at High Latitudes

Abstract

Northern ungulates must establish trace mineral reserves when forage is available in spring and summer to sustain biochemical activities through the long winter. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) reserves were measured in the serum, digestive tract, liver, and kidney of six male caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) fed a complete pelleted ration. Dry matter content and absolute amounts of Cu, Zn and Fe were highest in the liver. Digesta contents of Cu and Zn were greatest in the rumen but dry matter concentrations were greatest in the cecum reflecting the high levels of Cu and Zn in the diet. Serum ceruloplasmin (an oxidase containing Cu) activity was related to liver copper in captive reindeer and caribou (P Ͻ 0.05, r 2 ϭ 0.82) during spring and winter but not during the rut. Michaelis-Menten kinetics of ceruloplasmin were measured in sera from captive reindeer, muskox (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces alces) (n ϭ 3/ species). Maximum velocities (V MAX ) were 42, 20 and 9 (IU·L Ϫ1 ); k M were 0.38, 0.55 and 0.62 (mM) for muskox, reindeer and moose respectively. Wild caribou (n ϭ 3) from the Teshekpuk herd and moose (n ϭ 3) from the Colville River had lower V MAX (7 IU·L Ϫ1 ) and higher k M (1.9 mM) than their captive conspecifics. These kinetic parameters probably reflect differences in ceruloplasmin structure between species as well as differences in tissue reserves between populations within each species. Serum ceruloplasmin activity and kinetics can provide a non-lethal alternative to direct measures of hepatic Cu reserves in wild and captive populations. However, the method requires validation for the effects of sex, season, development and disease in each species.

Monitoring nutrition of a large grazer: muskoxen on the Arctic Refuge

“…Serum ceruloplasmin was assayed by oxidase activity of o-dianisidine [16]. Acid-labile Cu that was free of protein was isolated by deproteinizing 1.0 mL of serum with 2.0 mL of 1.4 M HCl and 2.0 mL of 1.23 M tri-chloro-acetic acid.…”

“…Small deficiencies of trace minerals such as selenium and Cu can limit the reproduction of ungulates without increasing adult mortality [15]. Copper may be particularly limiting for arctic ruminants because hepatic concentrations of Cu are low in some wild populations and Cu stores may therefore limit both the reproduction and recruitment of muskoxen [16,17]. Maternal liver Cu is the principal supply of Cu for the developing fetus and for the establishment of hepatic Cu used by the young muskoxen [18,19].…”

Hepatic Minerals of White-Tailed and Mule Deer in the Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

“…Requirements for increased demand for energy and protein by lactating females are met by selecting vegetation of higher quality and consuming a greater quantity of forage, when compared with their nonreproductive counterparts (Barboza and Bowyer, 2000). According to Blakley et al (2000), pregnancy in ruminants can be a source of Cu depletion due to its transfer to the developing fetus.…”

“…Liver concentrations of some trace elements have been measured in elk (Cervus elaphus) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Fielder, 1986;Gogan et al, 1989;Vikoren et al, 2005), caribou (Rangifer tarandus) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Barboza and Blake, 2001), moose (Alces alces) (Frøslie et al, 1984;Ytrehus et al, 1999), mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) (Fielder, 1986), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (Stetler, 1980;Fielder, 1986), muskox (Ovibos moschatus) (Blakley et al, 2000;Rombach et al, 2003), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (King, 1984;Schultz et al, 1994;McDowell et al, 1995). Trace elements such as copper (Cu) (Stetler, 1980;Frøslie et al, 1984;King, 1984;Gogan et al, 1989;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000;Barboza and Blake, 2001;Rombach et al, 2003;Vikoren et al, 2005), selenium (Se) (Fielder, 1986;McDowell et al, 1995;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000;Vikoren et al, 2005), and molybdenum (Mo) (Stetler, 1980;King, 1984;Gogan et al, 1989;Ytrehus et al, 1999;Blakley et al, 2000) have been the focus of research due to their association with reproduction or disease. Despite these studies, there is a paucity of information on the mineral requirements of free-ranging deer (Robbi...…”

Effects of inorganic and organic dietary copper supplementation on growth performance and tissue composition for juvenile red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus L.)

“…Three fish per aquarium were randomly selected and euthanized with an overdose of tricaine methane sulphonate (MS‐222) at 300 mg/L (Topic Popovic et al, ) to measure the condition indices: hepatosomatic index (HSI) (100 × g liver weight/g body weight) and intraperitoneal fat (IPF) ratio (100 × g IPF weight/g body weight). Another three fish per tank were randomly selected and euthanized, and liver samples were dissected and pooled into a composite sample, and Cu concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after being digested with a MARS6 CEM microwave oven (Barboza & Blake, ). The samples of water from each aquarium also were analysed for total Cu by the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences at Texas A&M University following digestion with nitric and hydrochloric acids according to protocol 1638 of the Environmental Protection Agency.…”