The influence of dietary molybdenum and copper supplementation on the contents of serum uric acid and some trace elements in cocks.

The effect of molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu) supplementation on some blood parameters and trace elements of tissues of cocks was investigated. The animals were fed with commercial poultry feed and water ad libitum and the experimental groups received peroral supplementation of different amounts of Mo or Cu during 4 weeks. Lowered values of serum uric acid were established in animals receiving 400 µg supplementation of either Mo or Cu. In contrast, the cocks receiving 100 µg supplementation of Cu displayed elevated concentrations of uric acid in the serum. A very significant statistical difference was noted between the uric acid levels of the animals receiving either moderate (group IV) or excess (group V) supplementation of Cu. The cocks with an excess of Cu displayed lowered hemoglobin and hematocrit values but no signs of Cu-intoxication were found in macro- and microscopical studies. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was employed in the determinations of the content of Mo, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and & in the liver and kidneys of the cocks. The authors suggest that the results of the trace element analyses presented are to be considered as preliminary values. Furthermore, the effect of Mo and Cu on uric acid metabolism should be additionally clarified by applying histochemical studies on xanthine oxidase in different tissues of cocks in order to make conclusions on the significance of Mo and Cu in the etiology of avian gout.