QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cerklewski, F. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cerklewski, F. L.

Determination of a Copper Requirement to Support Gestation and Lactation for the Female Albino Rat¹

Department of Basic Science, Division of Biochemistry, Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233

Confirmed pregnant female albino rats were fed a purified diet containing 3, 6, 9 or 12 ppm copper throughout gestation and lactation in order to determine a copper requirement for one generation. A diet containing 6 ppm copper was found to meet the biochemical needs for rats during gestation, but the combined stress of gestation plus lactation raised the dietary requirement to 9 ppm copper. Evidence to support these conclusions included measurements of serum copper concentration, serum ceruloplasmin activity, liver iron concentration, milk copper concentration and pup liver copper concentration. The results of these studies suggests that the current National Research Council recommendation of 5 ppm does not maximize the copper status of first generation off-spring in rats.

KEY WORDS: • copper • requirement • reproduction

¹ Supported in part by the Marquette University Committee on Research and NIH No. 1-S08-RR-09016-01.

Manuscript received 5 February 1979.