Sequence of development of iron deficiency in the rat

doi:10.1093/ajcn/35.4.671

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Volume 35, Issue 4, April 1982, Pages 671-677

https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/35.4.671 Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the interrelationships among storage iron, transport iron, and iron compounds that serve known physiological functions (Hb, myoglobin, and cytochrome c) during the gradual progression of dietary iron deficiency. These three categories of iron compounds are generally considered to become depleted in three corresponding, sequential stages. However, there is scattered evidence of substantial overlap between these stages in man. The presence of such overlap may prove pertinent to the interpretation of laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of iron deficiency. The rat was used as an experimental model to allow more complete evaluation of the interrelationships between the stages of iron deficiency than would be possible in man. Rats were given diets containing 2, 6, and 50 mg iron/kg diet during early adult development, between 36 and 90 days of age. The iron-deficient diets (2 and 6 mg iron/kg diet) resulted in decreases in hematocrit and in muscle and intestinal cytochrome c well before storage iron in the liver and spleen was exhausted. The results in the rat model may help to explain why there is not a consistent pattern of laboratory abnormalities in individuals with chronic, mild dietary iron deficiency.

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The intestinal absorption of cadmium (Cd) is influenced by body iron (Fe) status in laboratory animals and humans. In this study we investigated the role of the apical Fe transporter divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and the basolateral Fe exporter metal transporter protein 1 (MTP1) in Cd absorption. Rats were divided into the following groups; an Fe-sufficient (FeS) control group that was fed an FeS diet for 4 weeks (FeS, 4 weeks); an Fe-deficient (FeD) group that was fed an FeD diet for 4 weeks (FeD, 4 weeks); an FeS control group that was fed an FeS diet for 8 weeks (FeS, 8 weeks); an FeD/FeS group that was fed an FeD diet for 4 weeks and then an FeS diet for the following 4 weeks (FeD/FeS, 4 weeks/4 weeks); and an FeD group that was fed an FeD diet for 8 weeks (FeD, 8 weeks). After the 4- and 8-week feeding periods, rats were given a single oral gavage of Cd and were sacrificed 24 h later. The FeD (4 weeks) group developed Fe deficient anemia, but the parameters returned to control levels in the FeD/FeS group (4 weeks/4 weeks). The Cd body burden was greater in FeD (4 weeks) rats compared to FeS control (4 weeks), but returned to control Cd levels in FeD/FeS (4 weeks/4 weeks) rats. In addition, the expression of DMT1 and MTP1 was induced by Fe deficiency in the duodenum of FeD (4 weeks) rats, but was down-regulated to control values in FeD/FeS (4 weeks/4 weeks) rats. The correlation between duodenal DMT1 and MTP1 expression and Cd body burden in rats suggests an important role of DMT1 and MTP1 in Cd absorption.
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Sequence of development of iron deficiency in the rat

ABSTRACT

Am J Clin Nutr

J Pediatr

Blood

J Pediatr

Clin Chim Acta

Blood

Blood

J Biol Chem

Biochim Biophys Acta

Am J Clin Nutr

Serum ferritin in assessment of iron nutrition in healthy infants.

Acta Paediatr Scand