title: Acute iron overload leads to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis abnormalities in female rats.
abstract: Iron plays a critical role in a mammal's physiological processes. However, iron tissue deposits have been shown to act as endocrine disrupters. Studies that evaluate the effect of acute iron overload on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis health are particularly sparse. This study demonstrates that acute iron overload leads to HPG axis abnormalities, including iron accumulation and impairment in reproductive tract morphology. Female rats were treated with iron-dextran (Fe rats) to assess their HPG morphophysiology. The increasing serum iron levels due to iron-dextran treatment were positively correlated with higher iron accumulation in the HPG axis and uterus of Fe rats than in control rats. An increase in the production of superoxide anions was observed in the pituitary, uterus and ovary of Fe rats. Morphophysiological reproductive tract abnormalities, such as abnormal ovarian follicular development and the reduction of serum estrogen levels, were observed in Fe rats. In addition, a significant negative correlation was obtained between ovary superoxide anion and serum estrogen levels. Together, these data provide in vivo evidence that acute iron overload is toxic for the HPG axis, a finding that may be associated with the subsequent development of the risk of reproductive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emilly M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dieli de O
authors.initials: Dde O
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria T W D
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Podratz
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Electronic address: jbgraceli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jones B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Graceli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D007501:Iron
keywords: Acute iron overload; Endocrine disruption; HPG axis abnormalities; Iron HPG axis accumulation; Pituitary; Uterus and ovary oxidative stress