EXCESS COPPER UPTAKE IS A MODULATORY FACTOR OF PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE STEM CELLS PROGENITORS AND BLOOD ERYTHROCYTES

The local rabbit, Oryctolagus cunicuius , was used as a model animal to test the cytotoxic effects of copper. It has been found that application of two doses , 2mg / kg and 4mg /kg body weight of copper sulphate modulates the proliferation and differentiation of stem cell progenitors and erythrocytes. Several alterations were observed; they were time- and dose- dependent. of these alterations predominant existence of giant proerythroblasts and promyeloblasts, marked increase of adipose cells, degeneration of procrthroblasts among the bone marrow cells The most damage criteria in the blood erythrocytes were hypochromia, anisocytosis, fragmentation and burr-shaped erythrocytes. These observations suggest the cytotoxic effect of copper and that it is a modulatory factor of stem cell progenitors and blood erythrocytes