The Effect of Mercury in Iron Metabolism in Rats

Amir Shokooh Saljooghi

doi:10.4172/2161-0495.s3-006

Abstract

Chelation therapy has a long history of use in clinical toxicology to remove heavy metal toxicity from the body. The present research aimed to investigate the potential efficiency of Deferasirox and Deferiprone in removing mercury after its administration for 60 days following two dose levels of 40 mg Hg2+/kg body weight (Low dose drinking of mercury) and 80 mg Hg 2+ /kg body weight (High dose drinking of mercury) to male Wistar rats every day. After mercury administration some abnormal clinical signs observed in animals. Also after acute exposure of rats to mercury, decreased plasma concentration of iron, therefore it can be cause iron deficiency anemia. Our results showed that the effect of mercury on hematological indices was statistically significant and confirmed the iron deficiency anemia in rats. Combination therapy with Deferasirox and Deferiprone cause that the mercury level present in blood serum was significantly reduced and simultaneously, iron concentrations returned to the normal level and the symptoms of toxicity also were reduced. Also iron deficiency anemia that caused by mercury administration obviated.

Highlights

Metals such as iron, Zinc, and copper that present on living organisms are critical to them, whereas metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic that they are present on living organisms have no known biologic role
Anemia is a pathologic process in which the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in red blood cells is abnormally low
There is no doubt that iron (Fe) deficiency is the cause of most forms of anemia

Summary

Introduction

Zinc, and copper (essential elements) that present on living organisms are critical to them, whereas metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic that they are present on living organisms have no known biologic role. Some other metals such as thallium and mercury which are naturally not present on living organisms are toxic elements and cause serious damages for them by interaction with essential elements. Our results showed that cadmium and thallium concentrations increase in blood serum after their administration while the iron level decreases, it can cause iron deficiency anemia [4,5]. Iron-deficiency anemia is characterized by the reduction or absence of Fe stores, low serum concentrations of Fe and Hb, decreased hematocrit, an increased platelet count [6], low rate of Transferrin Saturation (TS), low serum ferritin, and a marked increase in Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

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