Phenomenon of hepatic overload of copper in Mugil cephalus: role of metallothionein and patterns of copper cellular distribution.

In this work we describe a phenomenon of accumulation of copper (Cu) in livers of a teleost fish commonly known as mullet, Mugil cephalus. High levels of Cu, up to 1936 microg/g wet weight were found. The high Cu levels seem not to be associated with environmental Cu contamination, since the fish were collected from widely separated regions with low Cu concentrations.

Tetrathiomolybdate causes formation of hepatic copper-molybdenum clusters in an animal model of Wilson's disease.

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive human illness in which large quantities of copper accumulate in various organs, including the brain and the liver. If left untreated, it results in hepatitis, neurological complications, and death. Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats have a homologous mutation to Wilson's disease and thus provide an animal model.