Influence of Hyperferric and Hypoferric Diets on Iron Transporters Proteins in the Rat Mammary Glands
Júlio Mello Neto *
State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Patrícia Aline Boer
UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Agnes Lopes
UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Célia Guadalupe Tardeli
State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Fernanda Humel
State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Aline Heloisa Vecensoti
State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Heloyse Hott
State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the expression of transferrin, lactoferrin and ferroportin at mammary glands of rats after treatment with a diet containing high iron dose and another iron-deficient.
Methods: Female rats have received commercial food, formulated with different iron concentrations, from 2 weeks before mating to 15º day after delivery: Hyperferric – with 1,500 ppm of iron (n = 5); Control – with 35 ppm of iron (n = 5); Hypoferric – with 1 ppm of iron (n = 5). At the 15º Day after delivery, mammary glands were extracted and the expression of transferrin, lactoferrin and ferroportin was evaluated by western blotting technique.
Results: Considering control-treatment results as being 100% pattern of the protein expression, the hiperferric diet has increased 17.82% the mean of transferrin expression, 27.50% of the lactoferrin and 63.79% of the ferroportin. The hipoferric diet has increased 13.33% the mean of transferrin expression, 44.59% of the lactoferrin and 20, 50% of the ferroportin.
Conclusions: Both stimuli, hiperferric and hipoferric diet, have increased the expression of the 3 proteins related with iron transport. Under influence of hyperferric diet, remarkable increased was observed for ferroportin, protein related to iron exportation from the cell. Under influence of hypoferric diet a significant increased was observed for lactoferrin, one of the major iron-binding protein in milk.