Copper and Manganese Storage in the Rat, Rabbit, and Guinea Pig

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Abstract
Guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats are born with a reserve store of copper which is drawn upon during the suckling period. In rabbits and guinea pigs both total amount and concentration of copper in the livers decreased during the suckling period. On the other hand, rats showed an increase in total copper in the livers from birth onwards even though the concentration decreased during suckling. In all 3 species studied, the amount of manganese in the livers at birth is relatively low. both total amount and concentration of manganese in the livers increased from birth throughout life, although the variation in magnitude of concentration of manganese in the livers was relatively small. It is emphasized that in studies of nutrient storage in animal tissues the determination of only the concentration of nutrients may be insufficient.