title: Iron excretion in iron dextran-overloaded mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron homeostasis in humans is tightly regulated by mechanisms aimed to conserve iron for reutilisation, with a negligible role played by excretory mechanisms. In a previous study we found that mice have an astonishing ability to tolerate very high doses of parenterally administered iron dextran. Whether this ability is linked to the existence of an excretory pathway remains to be ascertained.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iron overload was generated by intraperitoneal injections of iron dextran (1 g/kg) administered once a week for 8 weeks in two different mouse strains (C57bl/6 and B6D2F1). Urinary and faecal iron excretion was assessed by inductively coupling plasma-mass spectrometry, whereas cardiac and liver architecture was evaluated by echocardiography and histological methods. For both strains, 24-hour faeces and urine samples were collected and iron concentration was determined on days 0, 1 and 2 after iron administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In iron-overloaded C57bl/6 mice, the faecal iron concentration increased by 218% and 157% on days 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.01). The iron excreted represented a loss of 14% of total iron administered. Similar but smaller changes was also found in B6D2F1 mice. Conversely, we found no significant changes in the concentration of iron in the urine in either of the strains of mice. In both strains, histological examination showed accumulation of iron in the liver and heart which tended to decrease over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that mice have a mechanism for removal of excess body iron and provides insights into the possible mechanisms of excretion.
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Musumeci
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Maccari
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Massimi
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Tonino
authors: T
authors: Stati
authors: Cellular Biology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Sestili
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Corritore
authors: Department of Public Veterinary, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Augusto
authors: A
authors: Pastorelli
authors: Department of Public Veterinary, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Stacchini
authors: Pharmacology Department, Health and Food Safety, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Marano
authors: National Blood Centre, Rome, Italy.
authors: Liviana
authors: L
authors: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000652:urine*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex; D007501:Iron