Abstract
We studied the effect of iron deficiency on liver regeneration and innate immunity - respiratory burst of PMN. Wistar rats, males (M) and females (F) had sham withdrawals or males (M-w) and females (F-w) had nine blood withdrawals every week.
All rats were sacrificed in 10th week after 67% hepatectomy (PH). We determined blood cell count, respiratory burst (RB), serum prohepcidin, estradiol, iron, iron binding capacity (TIBC) and liver iron stores.
Both genders with blood withdrawals had early beginning of liver regeneration after PH. The preconditioning (withdrawals) leads to increase in iron turnover and stores following best reactivity of PMN, rapid decrease in serum prohepcidin, and early initiation of liver regeneration, mainly in females.
Females have higher iron turnover, liver iron stores more easily mobilized for blood losses, because next gravidity physiologically begin immediately after birth.