The Distribution of Copper in Bovine and Ovine Foetuses, with Reference to their Age and Maternal Liver Copper Concentrations

A survey of sheep and cattle foetuses showed that copper is present in highest concentration in the liver of both species; frequently over 50 per cent of foetus copper is in the liver. Liver copper concentrations in the bovine foetus did not exhibit change during foetal development, and were consistently much higher than adult concentrations. They were not, however, correlated with liver concentrations in the dam when these were greater than approximately 35 p.p.m. D.M. At lower dam values there was some relationship, though it did not appear to be linear. In the bovine and ovine foetus, copper concentrations in organs and tissues other than the liver were generally similar to adult values. The data suggest that kidney and heart values may vary in sympathy with liver values in the bovine foetus. Cows with large foetuses had lower liver copper concentrations than did those early in pregnancy. This was also found to be the case in the ewe. Liver copper concentrations in the ovine foetus were usually, and significantly, though not invariably, lower than those in the dam. The correlation between foetus liver copper concentrations and age of foetuses was not significant for either species.