Clastogenic effect of copper deficiency in cattle

ABBA MC; DE LUCA JC; MATTIOLI G; ZACCARDI E; DULOUT FN

MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS

Elsevier Inc.

Año: 2000 vol. 466 p. 51 - 55

0027-5107

Copper plays an essential role as a micronutrient. Deficiency of this element (hypocuprosis) in experimental and domestic animals has a severe impact on growing as well as on reproduction. The ocurrence of lesion during hypocuprosis is correlated with the depletion of an enzymatic group in which copper takes part. The aim of this work was the analysis of chromosomal aberrations in Aberdeen Angus cows of the province of Buenos Aires in relation with the measuremet of plasmatic copper. Short term lymphocyte cultures were made from samples obtained from four groups of animals: two groups with normal levels of copper in plasma and two groups with severe hypocupremia. This analysis showed a significant increase of the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (p< 0.001) in the hypocupremic groups in relation with control groups. Finally the correlation analysis of  Spearman showed a significative negative association (p< 0.05) between copper levels and the yield of chromosomal aberrations. The increase of the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations found in the hypocupremic groups could be explained by the higher oxidative stress suffered by these animals. A lower catalytic activity of enzymes such as Cu/Zn-SOD and cytochrome-c-oxidase coul increase the intracellular production of active oxigen species (O2-, H2O2  and OH°) with the consequent clastogenic effects.