Decreased copper content and activity/expression of SOD1 in circulating erythrocytes from <i>ms/−</i> mice.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Decreased copper content in erythrocytes of <i>ms/−</i> mice. Values are expressed as the means ± S.D. for erythrocyte samples obtained from 15 control (<i>+/−</i>) and 15 mutant (<i>ms/−</i>) males. (<b>B</b>) <i>left-hand panel</i>, the activity of SOD was measured after resolution by gel electrophoresis using the Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT)/riboflavin method as described in the Experimental section. The analyses were performed using erythrocyte total extracts obtained from <i>ms/−</i> and <i>+/−</i> males and representative results are shown. (<b>C</b>) <i>left-hand panel</i>, SOD1 levels in erythrocytes were analyzed by western blotting as described in the Experimental section. The analyses were performed using erythrocyte total extracts obtained from <i>ms/−</i> and control (<i>+/−</i>) males, and representative results are shown. The blot was reprobed with monoclonal anti-actin antibody as a loading control. (<b>B,C</b>) <i>right-hand panels</i>, the intensity of the SOD bands was quantified with a molecular Imager using Quantity One software (Bio-Rad) and is plotted in arbitrary units to present activity (<b>B</b>) and protein level (<b>C</b>). Results are expressed as the mean ± S.D. for 5 mice of both the <i>ms/−</i> and <i>+/−</i> genotypes. Significant differences are indicated (* – P<0.05; ** – P<0.01).