[Effect of copper deficiency on iron metabolism in rats]

To study the effect of copper deficiency on the nutritional status of iron, the expression of hepcidin mRNA and transferrin receptor mRNA in rats.

Forty eight clean male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups according to body weight; and there were 12 rats in each group. The groups are normal iron and copper control group (group I), normal iron and copper deficiency group (group II), normal iron and copper slightly deficient group (group III), both iron and copper slightly deficient group (group IV). Serum, liver and spleen of rats were collected by the end of 8th week. Serum copper, serum iron, hemoglobin, serum transferrin receptor, serum ferritin, liver iron and liver copper, spleen iron and spleen copper were determined. The expression of liver transferring receptor mRNA and hepcidin mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.

Compared with the controls, the contents of serum iron and serum ferritin decreased (P < 0.05), but the level of serum transferrin receptor and the content of iron in liver and spleen increased significantly under copper deficiency. The expression of transferrin receptor mRNA in liver increased but the expression of hepcidin mRNA in liver decreased significantly under copper deficiency (P < 0.05).

The nutritional status of iron may be affected by copper deficiency through influencing the absorption, storage and transportation of iron. Under the condition of copper deficiency, the expression of hepcidin mRNA in liver was lowered and the expression of transferrin receptor mRNA was enhanced through the way of iron response element-iron regulatory protein (IRE-IRP) to regulate iron metabolism.