MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR COPPER IN ADULT MALE-MICE FED AIN-93M RODENT DIET

Adult male Swiss-Webster mice were fed diets similar to AIN-93M contai ning 0.8, 1.7, 2.5, 3.6, 4.3, 5.4, and 6.5 mg copper/kg. Significant r eductions in serum copper, serum ceruloplasmin amine oxidase activity, and liver copper concentrations were observed in mice fed dietary cop per concentrations lower than 2.5 mg/kg. By using nonlinear modeling o f serum copper concentrations and serum ceruloplasmin amine oxidase ac tivity, it was estimated that the minimal dietary concentration of cop per to maintain maximal levels of these parameters in adult male mice was between 2.5 and 4 mg/kg diet.