Effect of Aluminum and Deferoxamine on Biliary Iron Elimination in the Rat

Abstract

Iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) eliminations in bile were studied in rats after intravenous administration of Fe, Al, deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal, Ciba) (DFA), feroxamine (FeA), and aluminoxamine (AIA) at the dose of 50 μmole/kg body weight. Bile was obtained from the bile duct of anesthetized rats, and the concentrations of Fe and Al in bile were measured by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The results showed an increase of Fe elimination in bile, from 10 to more than 20 μmole/liter after Fe and also after Al administration; an increase to about 350 μmole/liter after DFA administration; to 250 μmole/liter after FeA administration; and to 100 μmole/liter after AIA administration. Aluminum elimination in bile was increased only after Al and particularly after AIA administration but not after Fe and FeA administration. In conclusion, Al and AIA were able to increase Fe elimination in bile. Thus Al overload observed in hemodialyzed patients may induce an excessive iron loss in bile and partly explain microcytic anemia.