Plasma levels of copper, iron and zinc during the estrous cycle of the ewe
Hidiroglou, M.; Williams, C.J.; Hackett, A.J.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 52(1): 75-79
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 7200965 Document Number: 192165
Serum levels of copper, iron and zinc were determined throughout complete estrous cycles in 16 ewes. All ewes were normally cycling females exhibiting normal serum progesterone patterns. Copper serum levels tended to be higher during the preovulatory and ovulatory times, presumably due to the transfer of hepatic celuloplasmin as a result of the release of endogenous estrogen. Iron and zinc plasma levels were higher during estrous when the ovarian tissue requirement was higher. It is suggested that the control mechanism responsible for the variations in copper, iron and zinc plasma levels during the estrous cycle may be hormonal in nature.