It was determined if the sensitivity in macular mutant mouse to copper-induced toxicity was affected by sex or age. The sensitivity in 6-8-d-old or 3-4-wk-old macular mutant mouse to copper-induced toxicity was not affected by sex. However, 8-9-wk-old mutant females were more sensitive to copper-induced toxicity than mutant males. Furthermore, 6-8-d-old or 3-4-wk-old mutant males were more sensitive to copper-induced toxicity than 8-9-wk-old mutant males. However, age-related differences in sensitivity to copper-induced toxicity did not occur significantly in mutant females. On the other hand, in the case of normal mice, the sensitivity in 6-8-d-old or 3-4-wk-old mice to copper-induced toxicity was not also affected by sex. In contrast to mutant, however, 8-9-wk-old normal males were more sensitive to copper-induced toxicity than 8-9-wk-old normal females. Adult males were also more sensitive to copper-induced toxicity than 6-8-d-old or 3-4-wk-old males. However, age-related differences in sensitivity to copper-induced toxicity did not occur significantly in normal females. These results indicate that sex- and age-related differences in the copper-induced toxicity exist in macular mutant mice.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intracellular distribution of hepatic copper in macular mutant mice. An animal model of Menkes' kinky-hair disease.

To evaluate the role of lysosomes in copper-mediated hepatocellular injury, copper was administered, sc, to both normal and macular mutant mice at doses of 4.5, 9.0, and 18 mg Cu/kg, and the subcellular distribution of copper has been investigated in the liver of normal and mutant mice 24 h after injection. The amount of copper in all fractions of copper-treated mutant mice was markedly lower than those in copper-treated normal mice, with the exception of microsomal fraction. However, there were no distinct differences in the proportion of copper in subcellular fractions between normal and mutant mice.

Animals↗