Copper Metabolism

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief history on copper. It was one of the first metals known to man, first used probably between 8000 and 7000 B.C. The word copper derives from the Latin cuprum, an altered version of cyprium. Cyprium is an abbreviation of aes cyprium, the original name for copper in Latin, and refers to the island of Cyprus where the ancient copper mines were located. The chapter explores that the first indication that copper is an essential body constituent, at least in some species, came with the recognition of the copper-containing respiratory pigment hemocyanin in cold-blooded animals (FS), and the discovery of turacin, a copper-containing pigment in the feathers of certain birds. The aim of this chapter is to review the field of copper metabolism. Preference is given to the observations made in man. Emphasis is placed on recent contributions and on the few human pathological conditions related to disturbances of copper metabolism. The results of experimental work in animals and of studies in vitro are used to fill in the gaps. Analytical methods are used for the detection and quantitative determination of copper in biological materials, the techniques for determination, and detection of one of the biologically important copper proteins (ceruloplasmin) are also discussed.