Induction of increased phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide by an iron-deficient diet in rats

Abstract

The effect of iron-deficiency on lipid peroxidation in male and female rats was investigated and an attempt was made to understand the underlying mechanisms based on the changes in lipid hydroperoxide formation and relevant hepatic enzymes. Forty 4-week-old male and female rats were fed either an iron-deficient diet or a control diet for 4 weeks. The amount of iron in the microsome and cytosol of liver cells decreased 84 to 55% in the iron-deficient rats, and the amount of copper increased 222 to 1206% in the subcellular fraction of the males, but it only increased 14 to 43% in the microsome and cytosol fraction in the females. Serum and liver triglycerides, phospholipid, and cholesterol increased in iron-deficient male rats, but in female, only cholesterol slightly increased. Serum and liver phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) increased 55% and 61%, respectively in the iron-deficient males, and increased less in the females (26% and 10%, respectively). Increased xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and markedly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were observed in the liver of the males. The lower XOD and SOD activities and slightly GSH-Px in the females may explain the difference in production of PCOOH according to sex. The role of copper accumulation in the production of lipid peroxides in iron-deficient rats is discussed.