Changes in liver copper concentration of thoroughbred foals from birth to 160 days of age and the effect of prenatal copper supplementation of their dams.

The research article examines the fluctuation of liver copper concentration in Thoroughbred foals from their birth up to 160 days of age, and it also investigates the effectiveness of copper supplementation administered to their dams during late gestation on their foals’ liver copper concentration at birth.

Understanding the Liver Copper Concentration in Thoroughbred Foals

The research observed that liver copper concentration changes in Thoroughbred foals as they grow from birth up to 160 days. An elevated liver copper concentration was noted at birth, however, for the majority of the foals, the concentration declined to adult values by 160 days of age.

• The study highlighted two distinct patterns of the decline in liver copper concentration depending on the rate of the decline. Seven foals exhibited a faster decline, realizing adult concentration values by 160 days, while the remaining three showed a slower decline with a higher mean concentration at the end of 160 days.
• The study applied repeated measures analysis and identified significant differences between each biopsy and between the ‘normal’ and ‘accumulator’ foals.

The Effect of Prenatal Copper Supplementation

Another integral part of the study aimed at understanding the effect of prenatal copper supplementation, specifically copper edetate via injection given to pregnant mares during the last two months of gestation. The goal was to assess if this supplementation could influence the liver copper concentration in newborn foals.

• Pregnant mares, randomized based on age, liver copper concentration, and expected foaling date, were divided into two groups. The treatment group mares received two doses of copper edetate intramuscularly during the last stages of their gestation.
• Liver biopsies of foals were taken weekly for the first month after birth and then monthly for the next four months to observe any changes in the liver copper concentration.
• However, despite this prenatal copper supplementation, the research found no significant effect on the liver copper concentration of the foals at birth.

Conclusion

The research concluded that while the liver copper concentration in foals does decline with age, following one of the two identified patterns, prenatal copper supplementation in the dams does not influence this concentration in newborn foals at birth. The implications and significance of the two distinct patterns of the decline in liver copper concentration, however, remain uncertain.