Association between copper deficiency and DNA damage in cattle

ISSN： 1464-3804

Source： Mutagenesis, Vol.19, Iss.6, 2004-11, pp. : 453-456

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Abstract

Cattle hypocuprosis is the second most widespread mineral deficiency affecting grazing cattle. The consequences of hypocuprosis include a failure of copper metalloenzymes, many of which form part of the antioxidant defence system. This work focuses on the association between copper (Cu) plasma concentration and DNA damage in Aberdeen Angus cattle. Two-hundred and ninety-nine heparinized blood samples from 2-year-old Aberdeen Angus cows were obtained from different farms located in the Salado River basin, Argentina. Plasma copper level analysis was carried out in whole samples, while cytogenetic analysis and single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) were carried out in 82 and 217 samples, respectively. Cytogenetic analysis showed a significant increase in the frequency of abnormal metaphases in moderate/severe hypocupremic groups (groups B and C) in relation to the normocupremic group (group A) (4.5 and 1.5 abnormal metaphases/100 cells, respectively, P < 0.01).="" the="" spearman="" correlation="" test="" showed="" a="" negative="" association="" between="" cupremic="" values="" and="" the="" yield="" of="" chromosomal="" aberrations="">r = −0.708, P < 0.0001).="" in="" the="" comet="" assay="" greater="" migration="" was="" observed="" in="" cells="" from="" the="" hypocupremic="" group,="" from="" a="" median="" of="" 54="" in="" the="" severe="" hypocupremic="" group="" to="" 31="" in="" the="" normocupremic="" group="">P < 0.01).="" accordingly,="" the="" spearman="" correlation="" test="" showed="" a="" significant="" positive="" relationship="" between="" copper="" levels="" and="" cells="" without="" dna="" migration="" and="" a="" significant="" negative="" relationship="" between="" copper="" levels="" and="" cells="" with="" a="" tiny="" tail="">P < 0.0001="" in="" both="" cases).="" the="" results="" obtained="" show="" that="" hypocupremia="" in="" cattle="" is="" associated="" with="" an="" increase="" in="" the="" frequency="" of="" chromosomal="" aberrations="" as="" well="" as="" in="" dna="" migration="" as="" assessed="" by="" the="" comet="" assay.="" whereas="" the="" comet="" assay="" could="" differentiate="" copper="" plasma="" level="" groups,="" chromosomal="" aberrations="" only="" detected="" differences="" between="" normal="" and="" hypocupremic="" animals.="" the="" increase="" of="" dna="" damage="" found="" in="" hypocupremic="" animals="" could="" be="" explained="" by="" higher="" oxidative="" stress="" suffered="" by="" these="" animals.="">