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Iron absorption by Belgrade rat pups during lactation
Author(s) -
Thompson Khristy J,
Molina Ramon M,
Brain Joseph D,
WesslingResnick Marianne
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a164-a
Subject(s) - dmt1 , lactation , medicine , endocrinology , weanling , weaning , chemistry , kidney , hemoglobin , ferroportin , anemia , biology , transporter , biochemistry , pregnancy , hepcidin , genetics , gene
Divalent Metal Transporter‐1 (DMT1) is known to mediate dietary non‐heme iron absorption. Belgrade ( b ) rats, an animal model of anemia, have defective iron metabolism due to a mutation in DMT1 that disrupts this transporter's function. To examine the role of DMT1 in neonatal iron assimilation, homozygous b/b and heterozygous b/+ pups were cross‐fostered to F344 Fischer dams. The dams were injected with 37.5 μCi 59 FeCl 3 /kg body wt twice weekly during the course of lactation and the tissue distribution of radioisotope was determined at weaning (d 21). Compared to b/+ siblings, b/b rats had significantly higher levels of 59 Fe in the brain, heart, skeletal muscle, bone marrow, kidney, liver, and spleen ( n = 5–7; MANOVA, P < 0.05). The b/b rats were anemic and had blood 59 Fe levels that were significantly lower than b/+ controls. To study the pharmacokinetics of non‐heme iron absorption at the time of weaning, 35 μCi 59 FeCl 3 /kg body wt was administered to 21‐d‐old b/b and b/+ rats by intragastric gavage. Blood 59 Fe levels measured 5 min to 4 h post‐gavage were significantly lower in b/b rats, consistent with impaired DMT1 function in intestinal non‐heme iron absorption ( n = 5; MANOVA, P < 0.05). Combined, these data indicate that DMT1 is involved in non‐heme iron absorption in the mature intestine of weanling rats, but that its function is not necessary for neonatal iron assimilation in developing rat intestine during the lactation feeding period.