Transferrin receptor expression in normal, iron-deficient and iron-overloaded rats

The distribution of transferrin receptor (TfR)-positive cells and their staining intensity were examined in the liver, duodenum, pancreas, spleen, kidney and brain of iron-deficient, iron-overloaded and normal Wistar rats to elucidate the regulatory effects of iron on TfR expression in vivo. Iron deficiency was produced by an iron-deficient food and water regimen, and iron overload by repeated intraperitoneal injections of ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe3(+)- NTA) for 12 weeks. In iron-deficient rats, levels of hemoglobin (Hb = 5.9 +/- 0.7) and serum iron (SI = 29.9 +/- 4.4) were lower, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC = 624.4 +/- 72.7) was higher than in normal rats (Hb = 15.6 +/- 0.9, SI = 206.5 +/- 20.5, TIBC = 416.0 +/- 56.0), and vice versa for SI (217.7 +/- 15.5) and TIBC (307.1 +/- 45.4) in iron-overloaded rats. In normal rats, TfR-positive granules were observed in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of the liver, absorptive epithelium of the duodenum, acinar and Langerhans islet cells of the pancreas, macrophages and red pulp erythroblast of the spleen, and distal convoluted tubular epithelium of the kidney. Although the tissue distribution pattern of TfR-positive cells was similar in normal, iron-deficient and iron-overloaded rats, the staining intensity and number of TfR-positive cells were obviously higher in iron-deficient, and lower in iron-overloaded rats. We conclude that TfR expression is negatively regulated by the tissue concentration of iron.