Copper Deficiency in Rats Fed upon Raw Meat.

Evidence given in earlier papers (Moore, Sharman, Constable, Symonds, Martin & Collinson, 1962; Moore, Impey, Martin & Symonds, 1963) has supported the view that a diet of raw beef produces both skeletal and haematological abnormalities in young piebald rats. The skeletal lesions appear to be due mainly, and probably entirely, to the low calcium content of the meat. Since Ca requirements are much higher in young than in mature rats, the effect of a meat diet on the bones can be demonstrated most readily in weanlings. Mature rats can subsist for long periods on diets of unsupplemented meat without developing noticeable skeletal abnormalities. The haematological lesions are those of a severe microcytic anaemia, as seen in dietary deficiency of iron. Associated abnormalities are loss of the normal brown Fe-containing pigment from the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth and hypochromotrichia. The key element for preventing both the anaemia and the two associated abnormalities caused by a diet of raw meat was found not to be Fe, as first expected, but copper (Moore, 1962a). Indications have been reported that the severity of the lesions now associated with Cu deficiency may be reduced by an adequate, but not excessive, intake of Ca (Moore et al. 1962, 1963). Adler (1958) observed anaemia in mice fed upon meat. Subsequently ‘meat anaemia’ has been studied extensively in the same laboratory by Ilan & Guggenheim (1960, 1962) and Ilan, Kende & Guggenheim (1960). Mice, but not rats, developed severe anaemia when fed upon raw skeletal muscle from animals of various species. Supplements of organs, particularly liver, were first tried for treating the anaemia and found to be effective. Eventually Cu was found to prevent or cure the anaemia (Ilan & Guggenheim 1961; Ilan, Guggenheim & Ickowicz, 1963; Guggenheim, Ilan, Fostick & Tal, 1963). Ca was also beneficial, but manganese was not. Both Cu and Mn improvedtheutilizationofthe small amount of Ca in meat for mineralization of the bone. Moore (1962b) reported briefly the appearance of anaemia, dental depigmentation and hypochromotrichia in rats fed upon various forms of meat and also their prevention by Cu, but not by Mn or pantothenic acid. A preliminary account of breeding trials, which indicated the importance of Cu for lactation, was also given. Further experiments (Moore, 1963) showed that albino rats, as well as piebald, develop Cu deficiency when fed on raw meat. In piebalds cobalt was ineffective against the abnormalities, but they were usually prevented or ameliorated by ‘ domestic’ cooking of the meat. Commercial processing appeared to be less effective. Evidence was