Localization of Cu64 in Serum Fractions Following Oral Administration

Abstract

Summary

1. The administration of Cu64 by mouth to the rat resulted in an immediate uptake of the copper by the albumin fraction of serum as indicated by experiments employing zone electrophoresis for the separation of the serum. Later the copper shifted to the major copper protein in rat serum, which has the approximate mobility of an α₁ globulin. 2. The administration of Cu⁺ 64 by mouth to normal subjects and patients with cirrhosis of the liver also resulted in an immediate uptake of copper by the serum albumin fraction. The radioactivity shifted within a few hours to the α₂ globulin, ceruloplasmin, the major copper protein in human serum. 3. When radioactive copper was administered to patients with Wilson's disease, the radioactivity was confined to the albumin peak and little or no localization of the copper to the a₂ globulin fraction occurred.