METALLOTHIONEIN MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS IN THE MACULAR MUTANT MOUSE - AN ANIMAL-MODEL OF MENKES KINKY-HAIR DISEASE

Levels of metallothionein-1 (MT-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) in various tissues from normal and macular mutant mice at different stages of development (17 days of gestation, 1-, 3-, 7- and 14-day-old) were determined by Northern blot analysis. Renal MT-1 mRNA levels in mutant mice were slightly elevated at 3 stages compared to normal mice, with the exception of mutant fetus and 3-day-old mutant mice. Intestinal MT-1 mRNA levels in mutant mice were elevated at 3 stages compared to normal mice with the exception of mutant fetus and 3-day-old mutant mice. Hepatic MT-1 mRNA levels in mutant fetus and 1-day-old mutant mice were approximately the same compared to normal mice. In 3- and 7-day-old mutant mice, hepatic MT-1 mRNA levels were depressed and in 14-day-old mutant mice, they were increased compared to normal mice. Brain MT-1 mRNA could not be detected in normal and mutant mice at the 4 stages with the exception of 14-day-old mice. MT-1 mRNA in 14-day-old mice was detected and the level of that in mutant mice was slightly elevated compared to normal mice. After injection of Cu, MT-1 mRNA levels in kidney, liver and intestine were determined. The injection of Cu increased the level of MT-1 mRNA in the tissues of normal and mutant mice compared to control (saline-injected) mice. Significant differences in MT-1 mRNA levels in the tissues of both Cu-injected mice were not observed.