Effect of vitamin A deficiency on iron metabolism in rats

Objective To study the effect of vitamin A(VA)deficiency on nutrit ional status of iron and on mRN A expression of transferrin receptor(TfR)in the liver in rat.Methods Fifty-two male SD rats were divided randomly into four groups according to their body weights and each group included 13 rats.The four groups were normal iron and VA control group,normal iron and severe VA deficient group,normaliron and mild VA deficient group,mildiron and VA deficient group.After raised foreight weeks,the rats were executed and the serum VA,hemoglobin,serum iron,serum transferrin receptor,ser urm ferritin,iron in the liver and spleen were determined.The ex pression of transferr in receptor(T fR)mRNA was examined by reverse transcr iption polymerase chain reaction method(RT-PCR).Results Compared with the control group,VA deficiency groups had a significant decrease in serumiron and serum ferritin(P<0.05),and a significant increase in serum transferrin receptor and iron in the spleen(P<0.05).The high expression level of transferrin receptor mRNA was observed in the liver when VA was deficient.Conclusion VA deficiency may affect absorption,storage and transportation of iron and may enhance the expression level of transferrin receptor mRNA in the liver by IRE-ⅠRP.