title: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in erythrocytes from chronically copper-poisoned sheep.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate the capacity to generate reducing equivalents in erythrocytes from experimentally copper-poisoned sheep. Ten ewes were dosed orally with CuSO4 to induce the Cu toxicity. Copper dosing was stopped at the first day of hemolysis. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in the erythrocytes, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glucose (in serum and erythrocytes) was examined at frequent intervals. The copper-poisoned sheep had reduced levels (25-35% less) of glucose in serum and erythrocytes than controls. The activity of G6PD in erythrocytes from sheep was 50-60% of typical levels found in human erythrocytes. Immediately before the hemolytic period, the copper-poisoned sheep showed decreased activity of G6PD, declining to 65% of the initial activity. In addition, we found decreased blood levels of reduced GSH in copper-poisoned sheep. There appears to be a relationship between decreased capacity to generate reducing equivalents and the overload of copper in sheep erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro, Tandil, Argentina.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sansinanea
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Cerone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elperding
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Auza
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000506:poisoning*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003300:Copper; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione