Regional distribution of copper, zinc and iron in the brain in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats with a new mutation causing hereditary hepatitis.
In Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats of three different ages (7, 13 and 32 weeks old) concentrations of Cu, Zn and Fe were measured in 8 regions of the brain. The LEC groups aged 7 and 13 weeks showed low concentrations of Cu in all regions compared to Long-Evans Agouti (LEA) rats. In 32-week-old LEC rats, however, Cu concentrations increased in 7 regions, in particular, significantly so in the striatum, hypothalamus, cerebellum, midbrain and cortex. Changes of Zn concentration were not found in any region. The Fe concentration increased in cortex and olfactory lobes. The three LEC groups showed a very high concentration of hepatic Cu and a low concentration of serum Cu compared to LEA rats. In LEC rats aged 32 weeks, however, hepatic Cu decreased and serum Cu increased compared to the other two LEC groups. These results suggest that the increase of the cerebral Cu concentration is closely related to the inherently abnormal Cu metabolism and then to the changes of Cu metabolism from about 13 weeks after birth.
Sugawara
N
N
Department of Public Health, Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
Ikeda
T
T
Sugawara
C
C
Kohgo
Y
Y
Kato
J
J
Takeichi
N
N
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D008670:Metals; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc