Evaluation of renal function and oxidative metabolism of copper poisoned sheep treated with tetrathiomolybdate and/or antioxidant vitamins

• Grant number: 05/02235-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2006
• End date: September 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Maria Claudia Araripe Sucupira
• Grantee: Maria Claudia Araripe Sucupira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Tissue injuries caused by copper poisoning is mainly due to the existence of free radicals originated during the poisoning process. The classical treatment used to hold back cellular damage employs tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), a potent copper chelator. Although recent studies showed that treatment with TTM is efficacious, it is not completely effective because not only few animals might succumb after the treatment, there are also some cases that treated animals presented major renal damage after 30 days of the hemolytic crisis. This study will compare the effects of the treatment with TTM with or without the use of vitamins E and/or C in the survival rate of copper poisoned sheep, and will evaluate the renal function through urinary tests and indicators in order to check on glomerular and tubular integrity during the hemolytic and post-hemolytic stage, as well as it will study the dynamics of the free radicals formation in the organism during the same stages. It will also be investigate possible histological residual damage in the kidneys in the 60o day after the start of the hemolytic crisis. (AU)