Objectives: 

Recently, a relationship between iron metabolism and insulin resistance and obesity has been described, so we wanted to evaluate different liver proteins related to iron metabolism in an animal model of obesity generated by sequential exposure to different obesogenic factors such as neonatal overfeeding, high fat diet and ovarian insuficiency.

Materials: 

To induce an obese phenotype, pregnant female rats were housed at 23ordm;C under a 12h light, 12h dark cycle. Newborns were randomly distributed among the mothers. The litter size was adjusted to induce early postnatal over- or normal feeding; being either, small litters (SL) with 3-4 rats in each litter (overfeeding) and normal litters (NL, control) with 12 rats (normal feeding). At day 24, animals were weaned and divided in two groups; one was fed with high fat diet (HFD) and the other with low fat diet (LFD, control). At day 90, animals were further subdivided again in two groups, and subjected to bilateral ovariectomy. Sham- operated animals served as corresponding controls. At day 120 all animals were sacrificed. We examined the expression of ferrintin H, ferritin L, ferroportin, transferrin, TFRC, IRP1, IRP2 and STEAP4 by real time RT-PCR (Taqman®). 3way-ANOVA statistical analysis (www.r-project.org).

Results: 

We observed a decrease in ferritin, IRP1 and STEAP4 because of perinatal overfeeding. High fat diet increases the expression of IRP1. Estrogen insufficiency causes important effects in the expression of transferrin, IRP1, IRP2, STEAP 4 and ferroportin.

Conclusions: 

Animals subjected to three obesogenic factors showed marked changes in iron metabolism in liver. This animal model could be fundamental to further our understanding of the relationship between obesity and iron metabolism.