"Free" and "bound" fractions of blood copper in relation to the hemoglobin content
Nassi, L.; Pogoini, G.; Vecchi, C.; Rossi, G.; Galvan, P.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 48(5): 89-92
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 5032750 Document Number: 56868
Plasma of pregnant women had twice as much total Cu as that of women not pregnant, mean 291 against 114 to 120 mu g/100 ml; bound Cu in both groups was about 92% of the total. Total Cu in erythrocytes did not change in pregnancy and was about 121 ug/100 ml of which 58% was erythrocuprein-bound. In cord plasma total Cu was 103 mu g/100 ml, slightly less than the 115 mu g/100 ml of infants in the first week of life. About 82% was bound. In cord red cells there was 109 mu g/100 ml total Cu, 59% of it bound. In infants of 5 days the proportion of bound Cu in the plasma had risen slightly and both total and bound Cu in the cells were higher than in cord blood. There were strong positive correlations between total or bound Cu and Hb in maternal, cord and infant red cells, but the correlation with free Cu was low.