Cellular growth in iron-deficient rat pups.

Groups of 10 pregnant rats weighing 200-215 g were fed ad libitum diets containing 10, 100, or 250 ppm iron (Fe) throughout gestation and lactation. Litters were adjusted at birth to contain 7 pups, and on day 17 of lactation, dams and pups were sacrificed. Fe status was determined, and tissues from pups were assayed for parameters of cellular growth. Fe-deficient pups (10 ppm Fe) had slightly lower body weights, lower hemoglobin, serum Fe, and liver Fe levels than those fed diets containing 100 or 250 ppm Fe. Thymus was most severely affected by Fe-deficiency. Organ weight, per cent body weight, and total DNA were decreased by at least 40% in Fe-deficient pups. Spleens from 10 ppm Fe pups had 30% less total DNA compared to controls due to decreased organ weight. There were no changes in spleen protein, lipid or DNA concentrations due to Fe deficiency. Measures of DNA and protein parameters in liver were similar among groups, although a 60% increase in liver lipid concentration was observed in pups from dams fed 10 ppm Fe. The results suggest that nutritional Fe deficiency during reproduction produces alterations in cellular growth of rapidly-divided lymphoid organs in offspring, while accumulation of DNA and protein in the liver is unaffected.