The effect of copper supplementation on the brindled mouse: a clinico-pathological study

Brindled mottled is a neurological mutant mouse. Hemizygous males have many clinical and biochemical features in common with kinky hair syndrome (KHS) in humans, and usually die around postnatal day 15, after severe emaciation. Neuronal mitochondrial abnormalities and neuronal degeneration in the cerebrum and cerebellum were constant neuropathological findings in this mutant. A single intraperitoneal injection of cupric chloride, 10 micrograms/g body weight, resulted in an improvement of clinical symptoms and prevention of neuronal degeneration. The degree of improvement was dependent on the date of injection, and day 7 to 10 postnatal appeared to the most effective date. The male hemizygotes which received cupric chloride injections at day 7 or 10 overcame the lethality, and no neuronal degeneration was detected in these mice, although neuronal mitochondrial changes were still persistent. However, following two injections at days 7 and 10, no abnormalities were detected in the cerebral cortical neurons. Even at the ultrastructural level, abnormal mitochondria were very scarce. In the cerebellum, however, mitochondrial changes in the Purkinje cells, particularly in the rostral portion, and generation of white matter were noted in these mice, which were clinically perfectly healthy, judging from the growth rate and behavior. However, cerebellar changes were far less in those which received additional injections later on. These observations indicate that, at least in brindled mutant mice, supplementation of copper is quite beneficial for clinical improvement and the prevention of neuropathological lesions, but the date of administration appears to have crucial importance.