Alterations in kidney morphology in mice with mosaic mutation

The mosaic (Atp7a(mo-ms)) is an X-linked, lethal mutation in mice. Hemizygous males die at the age of 15 days and they exhibit strong similarities to the brindled and macular mutants. Injection of cupric chloride to mossaic mutants prolongs their life and diminishes the pathological results of mutation. Histochemical analysis of the kidneys from 14-day-old mutant males showed accumulation of copper in the renal cortex of the investigated animals leading to damage of the kidney architecture. A histological profile of the kidneys was defined for four groups of 14-day-old animals: mosaic males ms/-, control males +/-, mosaic males injected with cupric chloride ms/- (Cu), and control males injected with cupric chloride +/- (Cu). Pathological changes were observed in the cortex and in the medulla of the kidneys in both groups of mutants and control males injected with cupric chloride (50 microg of CuCl2 per each individual).