The effect of molybdenum and sulfur on the kinetics of copper metabolism in sheep

Abstract

Sheep were given 0, 5, 10, 15 or 25 mg/day molybdenum with or without 1.1 g/day sulfur orally for 1 week, and the nature of the interaction between these elements and copper was then investigated by injecting 64Cu intravenously, and analysing the disappearance of 64Cu from the blood by compartmental analysis. Molybdenum treatment decreased the rate of disappearance of 64Cu from the blood, and this decrease was enhanced by the concurrent administration of sulfur. Analysis of the disappearance curves in terms of a three-compartment catenary model showed that calculated total liver copper pool size (mean�s.d. (n = 4)) was decreased from 37.5�6.4 mg (no treatment) to 6.3 � 1.9 mg (50 mg/day moly..