The Cytogenetic Effect of Copper in Experimental Hypocupermic Goats

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of copper deficiency in goats on, DNA and chromosomesaberrations. A total number of 16 male goats of 12 months to 1.5 years old were used in the present experiment for 24 weeks. The male goats were randomly divided into two groups. The first group consisted of six animals and was kept as control fed copper sufficient diet. The second group was consisted of ten male goats fed diet treated with molybdenum and sulphur for 24 weeks. Blood samples were collected from all experimental animals every 6 weeks for 24 weeks with heparin for chromosomal analysis and comet assay. The clinical signs were recorded throughout the experimental period. Clinical examination of hypocupremic goats showed changes in hair color and texture at the 9th week of the. The copper deficient animals were depressed, listless, nervous (hyperesthesia), anemic (exhibited pale mucus membranes) and diahorric in some goats, as opposed to control group. There was marked increase in comet numbers in Cu deficient group in all animals compared with the same group at zero time. And There was high significant increase in chromosomal aberration at the end of the experiment in which there was increase in structural abnormalities as break, deletion, fragment and centric fusion which were high significant compared to the analysis at zero time. Moreover, there was significant increase in numerical abnormalities as hypoploidy and polyploidy which was significant increase in number after induction of Cu deficiency compared to analysis at zero time. Thus, the plan of the present work was designed to fulfill the following points:- 1- Assessment of DNA damage induced by Cu deficiency by comet assay. 2- Assessment of structural chromosomal aberrations induced by Cu deficiency by cytogenetic analysis.