ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the expression of transferrin, lactoferrin and ferroportin at mammary glands of rats after treatment with a diet containing high iron dose and another iron-deficient. Methods: Female rats have received commercial food, formulated with different iron concentrations, from 2 weeks before mating to 15º day after delivery: Hyperferric – with 1,500 ppm of iron (n = 5); Control – with 35 ppm of iron (n = 5); Hypoferric – with 1 ppm of iron (n = 5). At the 15º Day after delivery, mammary glands were extracted and the expression of transferrin, lactoferrin and ferroportin was evaluated by western blotting technique. Results: Considering control-treatment results as being 100% pattern of the protein expression, the hiperferric diet has increased 17.82% the mean of transferrin expression, 27.50% of the lactoferrin and 63.79% of the ferroportin. The hipoferric diet has increased 13.33% the mean of transferrin expression, 44.59% of the lactoferrin and 20, 50% of the ferroportin. Conclusions: Both stimuli, hiperferric and hipoferric diet, have increased the expression of the 3 proteins related with iron transport. Under influence of hyperferric diet, remarkable increased was observed for ferroportin, protein related to iron exportation from the cell. Under influence of hypoferric diet a significant increased was observed for lactoferrin, one of the major iron-binding protein in milk.