Biochemical and immunological changes in mice following postweaning copper deficiency.
Weanling albino male mice rapidly develop biochemical signs of copper deficiency when fed a purified diet containing 0.5 mg Cu/kg. Plasma ceruloplasmin activity of copper-deficient (-Cu) mice was 5% of that of copper-adequate (+Cu) control mice after only 3 d on the diet. More gradual loss of organ (liver, spleen, and thymus) cytochrome c oxidase activity was observed during the next 4 wk. Body weight was equivalent between +Cu and -Cu mice, but thymus weight dropped faster in -Cu mice than +Cu mice. The number of antibody producing cells to sheep erythrocytes was lower in -Cu mice compared to +Cu mice after 17 d on the diet. Spleen cytochrome oxidase activity of -Cu mice was 50% of that of +Cu mice by 10 d on the diet. Mitogenic response of splenic and thymic lymphocytes to concanavalin A (con A) was not greatly different between +Cu and -Cu mice. Splenocytes from -Cu mice had a 3-fold higher thymidine incorporation rate in the absence of mitogen compared to +Cu mice. The depressed antibody and high mitogenic background responses of -Cu mice were similar to previous work with another strain (C58) of mice that had been started on copper-deficient treatment from birth. However, the normal proliferative response to con A stimulation in postweaning copper deficiency differs from the previous model. Mice of both studies were very copper-deficient as judged by liver copper levels. Timing of the copper-deficient treatment influences the manner in which copper deficiency alters the immune response.
Prohaska
J R
JR
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology, University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812.
Lukasewycz
O A
OA
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003300:Copper; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV