Remarkable Plasticity of Bone Iron Homeostasis in Hibernating Daurian Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) May Be Involved in Bone Maintenance.

ABSTRACT: Iron overload is an independent risk factor for disuse osteoporosis. Hibernating animals are natural models of anti-disuse osteoporosis; however, whether iron metabolism is involved in bone adaptation and maintenance during hibernation is unclear. To investigate this question, Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) (n = 5-6/group) were used to study changes in bone iron metabolism and its possible role in anti-disuse osteoporosis during hibernation. Iron content in the femur and liver first decreased in the torpor group (vs. summer group, -66.8% and -25.8%, respectively), then recovered in the post-hibernation group, suggesting remarkable plasticity of bone iron content. The expression of ferritin in the femur and hepcidin in the liver also initially decreased in the torpor group

SUBMITTER: He Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9779590 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature