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 treatments included were all combinations of three Zn (ZnMet, 

 ZnLys, ZnS0 4 ) and three Cu (CuLys, CuS0 4 , CuO) sources added 

 to the basal diet at 3 mg/kg of Zn and 6 mg/kg of Cu forming 

 a 3 X 3 factorial experiment. After the 4 wk supplementation 

 phase, 4 randomly selected rats from each treatment were 

 sacrificed (Phase 1) . The remaining rats were fed the 

 purified, unsupplemented diet for an additional week (Phase 

 2 ) and the sacrificed. Mineral (Zn and Cu) concentrations were 

 determined in plasma, liver, kidney, bone, and muscle and MT 

 content was determined in liver, and kidney. Plasma Cu 

 concentrations were lower (P < .05) for CuO than CuS0 4 and 

 CuLys supplemented rats. Bone Zn concentrations were higher 

 (P < .05) for CuLys than for CuO supplemented rats. In all 

 tissues where Cu was measured, CuO was the lowest (P < .05) 

 available source of Cu . Furthermore, in muscle, CuS0 4 

 supplemented rats had higher (P < .05) Cu concentrations than 

 CuLys. Kidney MT content followed the same pattern as Cu 

 concentrations with CuO fed rats having the lowest (P < .05) 

 MT concentrations. Plasma Cu concentrations of depleted rats 

 were lower (P < .05) for CuO than CuLys supplemented rats. 

 Kidney Zn concentrations were lower (P < .05) for CuS0 4 than 

 for CuO supplemented rats after depletion. In liver, CuO 

 supplemented rats had the lowest (P < .05) Cu concentration. 

 Copper oxide was less available than CuLys and CuS0 4 when 

 added in adequate dietary levels, however, organic (ZnMet and 

 ZnLys) and inorganic (ZnS0 4 ) sources of Zn were similar. 



