Changes in bone metabolism-related mRNA expression in iron-deficient rats

Abstract

To determine the underlying mechanism of iron deficiency-induced bone loss, we investigated the effects of dietary iron deficiency on bone metabolism-related mRNA expression in rats. Weanling male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, each comprising six rats. Rats in two of the three groups were given free access to either a control (C group) or an iron-deficient (D group) diet for 4 weeks. Rats in the PF group were pair-fed the control diet with rats in the D group. Hemoglobin concentration, serum osteocalcin concentration, femoral bone mineral content and density, and femoral Igf1, Bmp2, Runx2, Sp7, Spp1, Bglap, and Col1a1 mRNA expression were significantly lower in the D group than in the C and PF groups. Additionally, urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion and femoral Acp5 mRNA expression were significantly lower in the D group than in the C and PF groups. These results suggested that dietary iron deficiency reduced osteoblastogenesis by decreasing the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2. Furthermore, bone resorption parameters indicated a decrease in bone resorption in iron-deficient rats.

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