Age-related storage of iron in the liver of horses

Abstract

The non-haem iron concentration was estimated in post-mortem liver samples from 51 horses (age range 1-25 years). Two were normal and 49 had been suffering from conditions that were not expected to have had long-term effects on iron metabolism. Muscle samples (splenius and biceps femoris) from 23 of these horses were also analysed. There was a highly significant age-related increase in the non-haem iron concentration in the liver (r = 0.635, p < 0.001), but not in the muscles, in which the iron concentration was much lower than in the liver.

Reference intervals for trace mineral and heavy metal concentrations in horse livers in the Netherlands

“…Increased Fe in liver tissue with increasing age is linked to age-related deposition of non-heme Fe. 9 Although the likelihood of higher concentrations increased with age, there was still a continued occurrence of horses with low concentrations of these elements in all age groups. This suggests that factors such as local environmental conditions or variations in iron uptake from the feed may be important contributors to the likelihood of accumulation in the liver over time.…”

“…The tissue concentrations of these essential trace elements need to be within an acceptable range for normal body maintenance and functions, such as reproduction, growth, and performance of work. 9 Not all elements that occur in the mineral fraction of tissues are essential. Heavy metals can have toxic effects if present in tissues at concentrations that are too high for adaptive mechanisms to neutralize their toxic effects.…”