STUDIES ON COPPER METABOLISM. IX. THE TRANSPORTATION OF COPPER IN BLOOD 1

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Abstract
Evidence is presented that Cu is present in human, rat, dog and pig plasma in at least 2 forms. The fraction which reacts with Na diethyldithiocarbamate only after removal from the protein by treatment with HC1 corresponds to the Cu alpha-globulin (ceruloplasmin) isolated by Holmberg and Laurell. This fraction constitutes approx. 96, 99, 88 and 58% of the Cu normally present in human, rat, dog and pig plasma, respectively. The remainder of the Cu in plasma is in a form which reacts directly with the carbamate reagent but, like the indirect-reacting fraction, is also nondialyzable within the physiologic pH range. The hypercupremia of pregnancy and that in infections in human subjects and in association with experimentally induced infections in animals is due to an increase in the indirect-reacting fraction. The hypercupremia which follows the oral or intraven. admn. of Cu is due to an increase in the direct-reacting fraction.