Effect of dietary copper deficiency on heterozygous female brindled mice

Abstract

Weanling female mice of two genotypes, control (+/+) and brindled (Mo br/+), were fed a semipurified diet low in copper (copper-deficient)(−Cu). Half the mice were given copper in the drinking water (20 μg/ml)(copper-adequate)(+Cu). The four groups of mice were compared in four replicate experiments consisting of a five week treatment period. Brindled mice on the +Cu system displayed minor changes in copper status when compared to control mice on the +Cu system including 11% lower liver copper levels and modest reductions in ceruloplasmin (14%) and liver Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (8%) activities. Brindled mice on the −Cu treatment had lower ceruloplasmin activity and hemoglobin levels compared to control mice on the −Cu treatment. Compared to brindled mice on the +Cu treatment, brindled mice on the −Cu treatment had lower activities of ceruloplasmin, bone marrow cytochrome c oxidase, and liver and spleen Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase. Also liver and heart copper concentrations were lower and liver iron higher in the brindled mice on the −Cu treatment. Collectively, these data suggest that when copper is limiting the expression of the brindled gene can be modified, namely, a marginal copper status can be exacerbated leading to lower hemoglobin levels.