Chronic copper poisoning in sheep. ii. The distribution of soluble copper-, molybdenum-, and zinc-binding proteins from liver and kidney.

The concentrations of copper, molybdenum, and zinc in the soluble protein fraction from sheep liver and kidney were determined after gel filtration. Samples from grazing sheep as well as from copper poisoned sheep were tested. In normal sheep the copper-binding proteins were separated into 3 different fractions. In copper poisoned sheep, as well as in grazing sheep with high copper concentrations, only 2 main fractions were seen. Molybdenum was only found in the high molecular weight protein fraction. The distribution of the zinc-binding proteins varied according to the degree of copper accumulation. The low molecular weight zinc-binding protein fraction was only seen in sheep with liver copper concentrations lower that 40 mug/g wet weight. In copper poisoned sheep a major part of the kidney copper was found in the low molecular weight protein fraction. At post mortem the bile copper concentrations in the copper poisoned sheep were only 2-4 times higher than those of the control animals.