Effect of Dietary Molybdenum and Sulfate upon Copper Metabolism in Sheep

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Abstract
The effects of 0.4% dietary inorganic sulfate, or a combination of 50 ppm molybdenum plus 0.4% sulfate, upon plasma clearance of intravenously injected 64Cu, and its uptake by the liver and incorporation into ceruloplasmin, were studied in Florida native sheep. When both sulfate and molybdenum were present in the diet, a reduced uptake of radiocopper by the liver and an impairment in its utilization for ceruloplasmin synthesis occurred. This resulted in a slower removal of radio-copper from the plasma. Stable copper in the liver and in the ceruloplasmin fraction of plasma was significantly reduced in the sheep receiving both sulfate and molybdenum. All data indicated a metabolic interference with copper by sulfate and molybdenum in the liver. As a tentative explanation of the mechanism of this interference, either an impairment of copper uptake by liver cells, or a primary intracellular metabolic disturbance in the synthesis of copper-protein compounds including ceruloplasmin, or both, are postulated. Dietary inorganic sulfate, in the absence of supplemental molybdenum had no effect upon the parameters of copper metabolism studied.

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