Effects of Molybdate and Tetrathiomolybdate Supplementation of Drinking Water on Immature Rats Infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. 2. Copper Status and Tissue Molybdenum Accretion.

Molybdate (MoO) and tetrathiomolybdate (MoS) supplementation of rats via drinking water had opposite effects on the establishment of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis larvae but both induced hypercupraemia, temporarily inhibited activities of superoxide dismutase in liver and duodenum after infection and enlarged the femoral head. Effects of MoO and MoS on activities of caeruloplasmin oxidase (CpO) in plasma, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD) and tissue copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) were compared to test the hypothesis that species lacking a rumen can thiolate MoO. Three groups of 18 immature Wistar rats were given Mo (70 mg/L as MoO) or MoS (5 mg/L) via drinking water or remained untreated; all received a commercial, cubed diet and 12 from each group were infected with larvae of N.