The Effects of Ammonium Tetrathiomolybdate Intake of Tissue Copper and Molybdenum in Pregnant Ewes and Lambs

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Abstract
Pregnant ewes (d 32 of gestation) were allocated to three treatments and given intraruminal controlled-release devices designed to deliver 0, 20 or 60 mg diammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) per day. Ewes given 20 or 60 mg TTM/d also received an oral drench of 120 or 360 mg TTM twice weekly commencing on d 86 of gestation. Liver and kidney samples were taken from lambs 48 h after birth and from ewes on d 18 postpartum. Trichloro-acetic acid soluble Cu, ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase activities in the plasma of ewes were decreased (P < .05) by TTM. Liver Cu concentrations were decreased (P < .05), but kidney Cu concentrations increased (P < .05) by 16-fold in ewes given the higher dose of TTM. Liver and kidney Mo concentrations were elevated (P < .05) 9- and 30-fold, respectively, in ewes given TTM. Plasma glucose concentrations in ewes were decreased (P < .05) by the highest level of TTM treatment. Lambs of ewes given TTM had a fivefold increase (P < .05) in liver Mo concentration, but kidney Mo concentration was not affected (P > .05) and liver Cu concentration was reduced (P < .05). In ewes, Mo apparently caused Cu to be mobilized from the liver and a Cu and Mo complex accumulated in the kidney. Some Mo crossed the placenta, but only limited Mo accumulated in the fetal livers. When given to pregnant ewes, TTM reduced liver Cu levels in the lambs but did not affect the concentration of Cu in colostrum. Copyright © 1988. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1988 by American Society of Animal Science