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Effects of Organic Copper on Growth Performance and Oxidative Stress in Mice

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Abstract

Copper (Cu) has been used as a feed additive for many years. However, high Cu amounts can cause oxidative stress and adversely affect animal performance. Such negative effects may depend on the amounts and forms of Cu. In the present study, the effects of inorganic Cu (CuSO4) and organic Cu (chelate-Cu) present in mice feed on daily growth rate and Cu deposition in the liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, and serum were assessed in addition to the oxidative stress levels in the liver and brain. Organic Cu at a concentration of 15 mg/kg significantly enhanced daily growth rate in mice, whereas Cu deposition in the livers was significantly lower than that in the inorganic Cu group. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver of the mice fed with organic Cu significantly improved, whereas malondialdehyde levels in the brain and liver were significantly lower than that in the inorganic Cu group. The different effects of organic Cu and inorganic Cu provide key evidence supporting the use of organic Cu in animal feeds.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Y. Y. Xie, X. Zhou, and Y. Y. Huang for their contribution in the animal experiments.

Funding

This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China (grant number LY18C200001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Nutrition and Detection, Linjiang School, Hangzhou Vocational & Technical College, Room 1501, 68 Xue Yuan Road, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Mingyu Zhi, Ping Tang, Ying Liu, Da He & Suxia Zheng

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  1. Mingyu Zhi
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Correspondence to Mingyu Zhi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted (Animal Experiment Committee of Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang Province, China; Permit Number: SYXK (Zhe) 2011-0157).

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Zhi, M., Tang, P., Liu, Y. et al. Effects of Organic Copper on Growth Performance and Oxidative Stress in Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 194, 455–462 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01796-2

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