Hepatic copper accumulation induces DNA strand breaks in the liver cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon strain rats.

Effects of accumulation of copper and iron on the production of DNA strand breaks were investigated in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) strain rats that spontaneously develop fulminant hepatitis. Copper and iron accumulated in the liver of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner from 4 to 15 weeks. Low-copper food prevented the accumulation of copper in the liver, but did not prevent accumulation of iron. When the amounts of DNA single strand breaks were estimated by comet assay, the number of DNA strand breaks in the liver cells of rats fed standard food increased with age from 4 to 15 weeks. The number of DNA strand breaks in the liver cells from rats fed low-copper food were the same as those of rats at 4 weeks of age. Thus, the copper accumulation in the liver of LEC rats induced DNA strand breaks, but accumulation of iron did not.