Congenital Copper Deficiency: Copper Therapy and Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase Activity in the Mottled (Brindled) Mouse

The study investigated the effects of copper therapy on the mottled (Mo) mouse, an animal model for Menkes' kinky hair syndrome, a congenital copper deficiency disorder. Researchers administered intraperitoneal copper chloride injections (10 μg/g) on postnatal days 7 and 10, which resulted in clinical and morphological improvements. Additionally, these copper injections increased the activity of dopamine-β-hydroxylase, a copper-dependent enzyme, in the brains of the Mo mice, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for addressing neurochemical changes associated with the disorder.