Interrelationship between the Biological Oxidation Mechanism, Serum Lipids and the Serum Iron Transport System in the Rat

This study was made to investigate the interrelationships in hemoglobin formation, the iron-transport system, serum protein, lipid metabolism and succinic dehydrogenase activity (SDH) of heart, liver and kidney of rats fed diets known to be hypercholesterolemia-inducing. These diets were fed with and without 1% added cholesterol and with and without sufficient iron. Control rats were fed a chow diet. Hemoglobin, hematocrits and serum iron of rats fed the 3 experimental diets were lower and serum protein, higher, than those for control rats. Serum cholesterol was higher in all 3 groups and serum triglycerides markedly increased in the iron-deficient rats. Heart weights of iron-deficient rats increased and kidney weights of the 3 experimental groups were lower than those of controls. The SDH activity of the heart was not affected by feeding the experimental diets. Liver SDH per gram of rat decreased in rats fed the 3 experimental diets and appeared related to the hypercholesterolemic effect of the diet and not to its effect of lowering the hemoglobin level. The kidney SDH was lower in rats fed the experimental diets and appeared related to the lowered hemoglobin level, for rats fed the iron-deficient diet had significantly lower SDH than those with somewhat higher hemoglobin levels.