Efficacy of Coprin in deer: An evaluation and comparative study with its use in sheep

Abstract

This report describes an investigation into the effectiveness and safety of the use of Coprin in deer. Sheep were also injected with Coprin under the same conditions to allow comparisons of the relative efficacy and safety of its use in the two species. This latter procedure was adopted due to the greater body of information on copper (Cu) metabolism available for sheep. The objectives were to determine the efficiency of Cu uptake and duration of the protection after Coprin injection. Possible toxicity effects were monitored by changes in liver enzyme concentrations in the plasma. The amounts of Coprin administered to sheep were initia11y designed to encompass the recommended dose of 1mg Cu/kg L W. The rates used were 0.5, I and l.5 mg Cu/kg LW, providing low. medium and hi~h treatment groups, respectively. The response of deer to acute Cu admimstration was unknown. The Coprin was therefore given with some caution. The intended dosage rates were 0.25, 0.5 and lmg Cu/kg LW, providing low, medium and high treatment groups, respectively. When this was successfully achieved a second injection, using higher dose rates, was carried out. For the sheep, the doses were intended to be I, 1.5 and 3 mg Cu/kg LW and for the deer 0.5, I and 2 mg Cu/kg LW for the low, medium and high treatment groups, respectively. Dose rates of this injection were intended to produce some liver damage, as indicated by leakage of enzymes into the plasma. The following enzymes were measured as indicators of liver or general tissue damage: glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH); sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH); creatine phosphokinase (CPK); g-glutamyl transferase (GGT); alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). In addition, since liver Cu levels would already be elevated after the first injection, this second injection allowed an assessment of the effect of liver Cu status on the efficiency of Cu uptake and of its retention in the liver. A chronological format of the experimental protocol appears as an appendix.