Chemical and Morphological Changes in the Brains of Copper-deficient Guinea Pigs

Abstract

The histological findings of the brain, cord, and nerve of copperdeficient guinea pigs at birth and the distribution of phospholipids in a small number of control and copper-deficient animals at birth and 63 days of age were investigated. Cerebellar folia were missing or malformed in some of the copper-deficient animals at birth and throughout the brain there was underdevelopment of myelin. Phospholipid determinations of whole brain supported conclusions established by myelin staining that there was delayed myelination present. The findings have been compared with the syndrome known as hypomyelinogenesis congenita and with the classical description of swayback in lambs.