COMPARATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COPPER-ZINC PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS AND SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN CAMELS AND COWS

On an experimental farm, five camels and five cows were fed with a sim ilar basal diet over a 6-month period. They received an oral trace ele ment supplement for 3 months (days 22-112). This supplement contained zinc and copper sulphate, and corresponded to twice the daily requirem ent generally recommended for cows. Plasma zinc and copper concentrati ons were significantly lower in camels (44 mu g/100 mL for copper and 38 mu g/100 mt for zinc) than in cows (106 and 83 mu g/100 mt, respect ively). The supplementation had no effect on the plasma zinc concentra tion in the camels in spite of the low observed values. The mean eryth rocyte SOD activity was also significantly higher in the cows (2 404 /- 211 IU/100 gHb) than in the camels (1 720 +/- 312 IU/100 gHb). In b oth species, no correlation was found between copper plasma concentrat ion and erythrocyte SOD activity. In cows, a positive relationship was observed between plasma zinc concentration and SOD activity (r = 0.39 6). In contrast, a negative relationship was found in camels (r = -0.3 69). These results are discussed in relation to the: physiological pec uliarities of the camel. (C) Inra/Elsevier, Paris.