Hepatic iron deposition in human disease and animal models

Iron deposition occurs in parenchymal cells of the liver in two major defects in human subjects (i) in primary iron overload (genetic haemochromatosis) and (ii) secondary to anaemias in which erythropolesis is increased (thalassaemia). Transfusional iron overload results in excessive storage primarily in cells of the reticule endothelial system. The storage patterns in these situations are quite characteristic. Excessive iron storage, particularly in parenchymal cells eventually results in fibrosis and cirrhosis. There is no animal model or iron overload which completely mimics genetics haemochromatosis but dietary iron loading with carbonyl iron or ferrocene does produce excessive parenchymal iron stores in the rat. Such models have been used to study iron toxicity and the action of iron chelators in the effective removal of excessive iron stores.