In-Vitro Use of Radiominerals to Determine Mineral Imbalances in Farm Animals. Part of a Coordinated Programme on the Use of Isotopes to Diagnose Moderate Mineral Imbalances in Farm Animals. Final Report for the Period 1 December

摘要

This research programme involved the use of in vitro radioisotopic procedures as well as stable element analysis and enzyme determinations to evaluate selenium, copper and zinc deficiency states in sheep in Turkey. Uptake of radioactive selenium by red blood cells was effective in determining the selenium status of sheep. Animals on a selenium deficient diet had red cell selenium uptakes significantly greater than those of sheep fed normal levels of selenium. When sheep on a selenium deficient diet were tested and then supplemented with selenium for several weeks, the red cell uptakes of radioselenium after supplementation were significantly less than before supplementation. A similar technique was used to study the zinc status of sheep. Uptake of radioactive zinc by red cells was greater in deficient sheep than in zinc-supplemented animals. Zinc deficient sheep also had lower serum zinc levels than in supplemented animals, and alkaline phosphatase activity levels. Assays of erythrocyte uptake, using a scintillation counter may be useful in the absence of equipment for total mineral analysis or enzyme assays. In another study the serum copper levels of sheep of different genetic types were compared to serum ceruloplasmin levels and to the incidence of enzootic ataxia in offspring of these animals. A definite correlation was found between haemoglobulin type, serum copper level and ceruloplasmin level. Comparisons of these parameters in sheep with copper and molybdenum levels in forage samples indicated that copper deficiency in sheep in Turkey is apparently a secondary copper deficiency due to high levels of molybdenum in forage. (Atomindex citation 12:610097)