Milk ceruloplasmin is a valuable source of nutrient copper ions for mammalian newborns.

This research focuses on the role of milk ceruloplasmin (Cp), the main extracellular copper-containing protein of vertebrates, as a source of copper for newborns. In the first part of the study, Cp concentration and Cp-associated copper were measured in human skimmed milk at the 1st and the 5th days postpartum. It was shown that most of the copper was associated with Cp and that the decrease in copper concentration during lactation was related to the drop of Cp levels.

[Milk ceruloplasmin as a physiological source of nutritional copper in early ontogenesis in mammals].

This work elucidates the role of ceruloplasmin (Cp): the main soluble copper containing glycoprotein, in newborn infant copper metabolism. An over 3-fold drop of Cp and copper concentration in samples of skimmed milk from 2 to 5 days of lactation was demonstrated. It has been shown that [125I]Cp of the breast milk is discovered in the blood plasma after its was administered per os to 6-day old rats.

[Age-related features of ceruloplasmin biosynthesis and distribution in rats].

Biosynthesis of ceruloplasmin, a copper-containing glycoprotein, which plays an important role in copper transfer and bidirectional iron transport in vertebrates, was studied in 7-day old rats characterized by the embryonic type of copper metabolism. In addition to the liver, copper is synthesized in the lungs, brain, and kidneys. The appearance of labeled ceruloplasmin in the blood flow coincides with the time of liberation of de novo synthesized ceruloplasmin from the liver.

[Effects of infant formula feeding on the distribution of copper in the body of 8-day-old rats].

The oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin (Cp, EC 1.16.3.