title: Haemosiderin deposition in Donkey (Equus asinus) livers: Comparison of quantitative histochemistry for iron and liver iron content.
abstract: Post mortem liver samples from 12 donkeys (Equus asinus) aged 21-57 years (4 females, 1 stallion, 7 geldings), were assessed chemically for copper and iron content on a wet weight basis and histologically for stainable iron. Chemical liver copper content ranged from 2.7 to 4.8μg/g (mean 3.5±0.05μg/g). Chemical liver iron content ranged from 524 to 5010μg/g (mean 1723±1258μg/g). Histochemical iron was measured morphometrically using a computer-based image analysis system; percentage section area staining for iron ranged from 0.84% to 26.69% (mean 10.82±8.36%). There was no clear correlation, within the wide range of iron values, between histochemically demonstrable iron and chemically measured iron content. No clear age-related increase was apparent for either parameter in these aged donkeys. The accumulation of iron in the liver of donkeys may represent a physiological haemosiderosis rather than pathological haemochromatosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK. Peter.Brown@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Whitbread
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Burden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daniell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D006485:Hemosiderin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006485:Hemosiderin; D007501:Iron