title: Effects of copper metabolism on neurological functions in Wistar and Wilson's disease model rats.
abstract: Behavioral functions of Wistar and Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, Wilson's disease animal model, were compared by measuring the open-field, acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition (PPI), and shuttle-box avoidance learning tests with or without oral supplementation with copper or D-penicillamine, copper chelator. All of the LEC rats, irrespective of the treatment, exhibited higher locomotor activity, a decreased habituation to startle response or a lower PPI, compared with Wistar rats. The copper content of all brain regions examined, except for the medulla oblongata of LEC rats, was significantly lower than those in Wistar rats. Besides, in the region of the striatum and the nucleus accumbens of the LEC rats, lower content of norepinephrine, and higher content of dopamine and serotonin were observed compared with Wistar rats. Although copper supplementation did not affect the brain copper content, it reduced the PPI in both Wistar and LEC rats. In contrast, D-penicillamine supplementation decreased both the brain copper content and locomotor activity, and enhanced the startle amplitude only in Wistar rats. These findings suggest that an imbalance in copper homeostasis affects monoamine metabolism and behavioral functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan. noriko-f@hyo-med.ac.jp <noriko-f@hyo-med.ac.jp>
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iso
authors.forename: Nobue
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitanaka
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kitanaka
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ookawara
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Shigero
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: Daisaku
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003300:Copper