Content of Human Organs and Tissues

Organs uid tissues Median 80% range Median 80% range Median 80% range (g) Median 80% range 

On the basis of the excellent data of Tipton and Cook (Table 3) with a few assumptions, which are detailed in the table, the total body copper content can be calculated. The mean of 75 mg with a range of 50-120 mg is lower than the previously quoted figures. 

The intracellular distribution of copper has been studied. A distinct pattern of distribution was foimd among the four subcellular fractions that can be separated by differential centrifugation. In rat liver, 64.3% of the total copper is found in the soluble fraction, 8.2% and 5.0% in the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, respectively, and 20.3% in the fraction containing nuclei and cell residue. These results obtained by Thiers and Vallee (T2) were confirmed by Hermann and Kun (HIO). In the livers obtained at autopsy of two adult men. Porter has found a similar subcellular distribution of copper (Pll, P15). 

The concentrations of copper in biological fluids of man are shown in Table 4. The blood levels of copper are around 100 jug/lOO ml. Plasma and erythrocytes contain similar concentrations of copper. 

The copper content of saliva is much lower than that of the blood. Bile contains highly variable amounts of copper, which is not surprising since it is the main excretory route for copper. The copper content of cerebrospinal fluid is controversial. According to the recent careful measurements of Kjellin (K8) (shown in Table 4), the copper concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal adults is very low. Higher levels were reported by others (see literature quoted by Kjellin, K8). 

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