Superoxide dismutase activity in the crinkled mutant mouse: ameliorative effects of dietary copper supplementation.

Abstract

SummaryLiver cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase activity was lower in mice homo-zygous for the gene crinkled (cr) than in noncrinkled littermate controls (+/?), both at 14 and at 60 days of age. Liver copper concentration was also low at 14 days, but was normal at 60 days. Supplementation during pregnancy and lactation with a high level of dietary copper brought both cupro-zinc S.O.D. activity and copper concentration in the liver of mutant offspring to levels similar to those of nonmutant littermate controls. Liver cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase activity was not found to be influenced by a deficiency of either zinc or protein in the rat.This investigation was supported in part by NIH Research Grant HD-02355 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and National Research Service Award DE-07001 from the National Institute of Dental Research.