Intranuclear iron deposition in hepatocytes and renal tubular cells in mice treated with ferric nitrilotriacetate

Cytoplasmic and intranuclear iron depositions were observed in the livers a nd kidneys of male and female ddY mice treated for 4-12 weeks with ferric n itrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), a known renal carcinogen that acts through the p roduction of free radicals. The intranuclear iron deposition consisted of a spherical aggregation of ferritin particles of approximately 10 nm diamete r, as revealed by immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy. Alt hough the incidence of renal rumours was greater in the males than in the f emales, the incidence of iron depositions did not differ with gender. The m ost abundant intranuclear iron depositions were observed in the animals tre ated with Fe-NTA for the longest duration (12 weeks). These findings sugges t that the intranuclear production and propagation of free radical reaction s are prevented by the trapping of iron in a chemically inert iron form of ferritin.