Treatment of newborn pigs with supplemental
iron is a common procedure utilized to prevent
neonatal anemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic distribution and intracellular metabolism of
iron-
dextran, a widely used colloidal-
iron-
carbohydrate preparation. Piglets were injected intramuscularly with
iron-
dextran (50 mg Fe/kg body wt) at 1 d of age. Hepatocytes and sinusoidal cells (Kupffer cells and endothelial cells) were isolated from
iron-treated and control (uninjected) piglets at 2, 6 and 11 d of age. The concentrations of
iron,
copper and
zinc in isolated cells were determined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the quantities of
ferritin-
protein and
ferritin-
iron were measured by immunoelectrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography, respectively. At 2 d of age, the concentration (microgram/mg cell
protein) of
iron was 5-, 62- and 54-fold higher in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and endothelial cells, respectively, isolated from
iron-treated piglets than from control piglets. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and endothelial cells accumulated
ferritin in response to
iron-
dextran treatment. Higher concentrations of
ferritin-
protein and
ferritin-
iron were present in Kupffer cells and endothelial cells than in hepatocytes at all times
after treatment with
iron-
dextran. The percentage of cellular
iron that was associated with
ferritin, however, was greater in hepatocytes than in sinusoidal cells.
Iron accumulated by all three liver cell types was mobilized to extrahepatic sites. Slight alterations in
zinc and
copper status of liver cells were evident at 11 d of age as a result of
iron treatment.