The effects of high dietary supplements of copper sulphate on pantothenic acid metabolism in the chick.

1. The effects of incorporation of copper sulphate supplying 250 mg copper/kg semi-purified diet with graded amounts of calcium pantothenate (CaPa) were studied in chicks. 2. When the doses of CaPa were marginally adequate or less the Cu supplementation induced severe signs of pantothenic acid (PaA) deficiency. 3. Livers of the Cu-treated birds given low doses of PaA had lower concentrations of total and bound PaA than those of the corresponding control birds. The bound:total PaA value was also reduced. 4. The amount and concentration of coenzyme A (CoA) were significantly less in the livers of Cu-treated chicks. Fatty acid synthetase activity was not reduced. 5. It is suggested that high dietary supplements of CuSO4 induce PaA deficiency through interference in the biosynthesis of CoA.