Rodent brain and heart catecholamine levels are altered by different models of copper deficiency

Limiting dopamine β-monooxygenase results in lower norepinephrine (NE) and higher dopamine (DA) concentrations in copper-deficient (Cu−) tissues compared to copper-adequate (Cu+) tissues. Mice and rat offspring were compared to determine the effect of differences in dietary copper (Cu) deficiency started during gestation or lactation on catecholamine, NE and DA, content in brain and heart. Holtzman rat and Hsd:ICR (CD-1) outbred albino mouse dams were fed a Cu− diet and drank deionized water or Cu supplemented water. Offspring were sampled at time points between postnatal ages 12 and 27. For both rat and mouse Cu− tissue, NE and DA changes were greater at later ages. Though Cu restriction began earlier in rats than mice in the gestational model, brain NE reduction was more severe in Cu− mice than Cu− rats. Cardiac NE reduction was similar in Cu− rodents in the gestation models. In the lactation model, mouse catecholamines were altered more than rat catecholamines. Furthermore, following lactational Cu deficiency Cu− mice were anemic and exhibited cardiac hypertrophy, Cu− rats displayed neither phenotype. Within a species, changes were more severe and proportional to the length of Cu deprivation. Lactational Cu deficiency in mice had greater consequences than in rats.