Copper deficiency in chicks: effects of ascorbic acid on iron, copper, cytochrome oxidase activity, and aortic mucopolysaccharides.

I . Copper deficiency was induced in newly hatched chicks by feeding on a milk-based diet for 12 d ; effects of supplementation with ascorbic acid were studied. 2. Cu deficiency alone resulted in 30% mortality from aortic rupture. This was associated with a 20% increase in total acid mucopolysaccharides in the aorta, manifested as an increase in chondroitin sulphate and a relative decrease in hyaluronic acid. Cytochrome oxidase activity of liver and heart was less than half that of the controls. 3. Supplementing the Cu-deficient diet with 0.5 yo L-ascorbic acid increased mortality to 40%, raised total aortic acid mucopolysaccharides to a higher level, and increased liver iron by