IRON AND COPPER-METABOLISM IN ANALBUMINEMIC RATS FED A HIGH-IRON DIET

The metabolism of iron and copper in male Nagase analbuminaemic (NA) a nd Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was compared. Relative liver weight was hi gher and spleen weight significantly lower in NA than SD rats. In NA r ats, red blood cell count, haemoglobin and haematocrit were lower, whe reas plasma transferrin, total iron-binding capacity and mean corpuscu lar haemoglobin were higher when compared with SD rats. Iron concentra tions in plasma, liver, kidneys and heart were higher, and those in th e spleen and tibia were lower, in NA rats. The iron concentrations in liver and spleen were positively correlated with the amount of brown p igment as observed histopathologically. Bile flow as well as biliary i ron and copper excretion were higher in NA than SD rats. Copper concen trations in liver, kidneys and plasma were higher in NA rats. Plasma l evels of ceruloplasmin were about two-fold higher in NA rats. The feed ing of a high-iron diet reduced kidney copper concentrations in both s trains of rats, which was associated with a decrease in the absorption and biliary excretion of copper.