Iron and Copper Metabolism during Development

Abstract

Towards the end of pregnancy, iron and copper are extensively transferred to the fetus, much being retained in the liver by specific fetal proteins (fetal ferritin, mitochondrocuprein). These stores are used up during suckling because milk is deficient m iron and copper. After weaning, dietary iron is deposited in liver as adult type ferritin, which can also be induced prematurely by iron administration. During suckling, the high rate of iron absorption observed in neonatal rats undergoes adaptive reduction to the low adult rate. In this period also, the capacity to transfer stored liver copper to the copper-binding protein, ceruloplasmin, emerges. Thus, perinatal iron and copper metabolism involve substitution of adult for fetal mechanisms analogous to changes occurring in other metabolic systems at this time.

Estimation of proximate composition, micronutrients and phytochemical compounds in traditional vegetables from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…Copper is an essential part of metalloenzymes, particularly oxidases and helps in iron metabolism through converting ferrous ions into ferric state (Linder and Munro 1973). It is a part of dopamineb-hydroxylase, only enzyme involved in synthesis of membrane-bound small-molecule neurotransmitters in brain chemistry.…”

Iron deficiency in the pregnant rat has differential effects on maternal and fetal copper levels

“…Cu transfer from mother to fetus is mediated by at least one transporter in the microvillar membrane. The placenta has only a limited capacity to cope with maternal Cu deficiency, and reduced maternal Cu leads to a drop in fetal levels [28,29]. In contrast, increasing Cu does not lead to overload, suggesting that the placenta can limit Cu transfer [30,31].…”

Ceruloplasmin: The Copper Transport Protein With Essential Oxidase Activity

“…It is known that the plasma C p levels are under a wide range of humoral and hormonal controls (5). In the rat, dramatic increases in serum C p are observed within 3 weeks after birth at the expense of copper stores, after estrogen administration, and after stress and inflammation (5,6,121). But virtually nothing is known about the intracellular mechanism involved in C p biosynthesis, including both the apo-Cp moiety and how and when the copper is inserted into the protein.…”