title: The effect of human recombinant erythropoietin on iron absorption and hepatic iron in a rat model.
abstract: In order to ascertain whether recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) therapy would result in further intestinal iron absorption in the setting of systemic iron loading, iron absorption was measured in iron-loaded rats receiving EPO therapy and a control group of iron-loaded rats. Parenteral iron dextran (100 mg) resulted in hepatic siderosis with predominantly a reticuloendothelial distribution. EPO was given by intraperitoneal injection (100 U/kg) for 10 days. Radioiron absorption was measured by total body counting. Iron absorption in EPO-treated rats was 4.8 +/- 2.0% (n = 12) and 4.5 +/- 2.2% (n = 10) in the control rats (p greater than 0.05). Mean hemoglobin in the EPO rats was 201 +/- 12.5 g/L and 140 +/- 18.2 g/L in the control rats (p less than 0.001). Mean hepatic iron concentration was 73 +/- 16 mumol/g in the control rats and 34 +/- 9.1 mumol/g in the EPO-treated rats (p less than 0.001). This study suggests that iron-loaded rats do not demonstrate an increase in intestinal iron absorption with EPO therapy despite a significant erythropoiesis. The reduction in hepatic iron concentration suggests that reticuloendothelial iron is accessible and mobilized to produce new red blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muirhead
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron