Changes in the concentration of copper in serum of sheep during halothane anaesthesia.

Concentrations of serum copper and caeruloplasmin were measured in jugular blood samples of sheep before, during and after halothane anaesthesia. Significant decreases were recorded in the concentration of serum copper during anaesthesia, but caeruloplasmin activity did not change significantly. The serum copper concentration increased when the sheep were allowed to recover, and returned to pre-anaesthetic values after 3 h.