Hepatic subcellular distribution of copper in primary biliary cirrhosis. Comparison with other hyperhepatocupric states and review of the literature
Owen, C.A.; Dickson, E.R.; Goldstein, N.P.; Baggenstoss, A.H.; McCall, J.T.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings 52(2): 73-80
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-6196 PMID: 345001 Document Number: 121932
Normal human liver was from persons dead from accident or from irrelevant disorder. Range and mean or sole value of Cu in mu g/g wet liver were for 17 normal persons 3.5 to 8.9, 5.8; for 1 infant 2 days old 31.3; for 5 adult rats 3.8 to 5.5, 4.8; for 3 rats 2 to 4 days old 12.4 to 18.0, 14.5; for 2 adult pigs 5.6 and 8.9; for 2 pigs 1 day old 26.2 and 27.2. Values are given also for persons with liver disorder and for rats deprived of, or given excess, Cu in diet. Homogenized liver was centrifuged for 1 h at 4 deg C at 105 000 gn and Cu was estimated in the supernatant. Normal persons with higher total Cu in liver had lower proportions of it in supernatant, mean 78% of total Cu. The infant had only 25%; rats had 66%, falling to 55 and 37% with increasing excess Cu in diet, 29% in Cu deficiency had 27% in the newborn rats. Pigs had 39%, day-old pigs 13%. Subcellular distribution of Cu in liver was studied. For man, concentration of Cu in blood from liver resembled that of total liver rather than of blood; Cu in bile varied widely.