Role of Uteroferrin in Placental Iron Transport: Effect of Maternal Iron Treatment on Fetal Iron and Uteroferrin Content and Neonatal Hemoglobin

Abstract

Uteroferrin, an Fe-containing, progesterone-induced glycoprotein is involved in maternal to fetal Fe transport in swine. These studies examined the effect of im Fe injection of dam on conceptus and piglet Fe stores. In Exp. I, eight gilts were bred and assigned to either treatment I (no Fe injections) or treatment II (total of 22 mg iron-dextran/kg body weight on d 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 of gestation) and hysterectomized on d 90 to determine whether Fe injections increased Fe stores in the conceptus. Total Fe in allantoic fluid (P less than .10) as well as uteroferrin concentration (P less than .05) and total uteroferrin (P less than .05) in placentae were greater for gilts in treatment II. In Exp. II, 19 cross-bred sows were bred and assigned to treatments I and II (d 40, 50 and 60 of gestation), as in Exp. I, and treatment III (total of 22 mg iron-dextran/kg body weight on d 90, 100 and 110 of gestation) to determine effects of treatment on hemoglobin (Hb) values of the piglets at 8 +/- 1 h and d 4 postpartum. Piglets from treatment II had higher (P less than .01) Hb at 8 +/- 1 h, but not on d 4 postpartum. Experiment III was a replication of Exp. II except that Hb values were determined at 8 +/- 1 h, d 4 and d 7 postpartum. On d 7, piglets from treatment II had higher (P less than .05) Hb, but differences at 8 +/- 1 h and d 4 were not significant (P greater than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cathepsin B, Cathepsin L, and Cystatin C in the Porcine Uterus and Placenta: Potential Roles in Endometrial/Placental Remodeling and in Fluid-Phase Transport of Proteins Secreted by Uterine Epithelia Across Placental Areolae1

“…Nutrients, gases and macromolecules, such as those for transport of iron and vitamins, are transferred from the maternal capillaries into the placental capillaries and then are transported to the heart via the fetal venous system for distribution to all fetal-placental tissues [9,[50][51][52]. All nutrients transferred across the placenta may be cleared via the kidney and into the bladder, from which they can enter the allantoic sac via the urachus for metabolism, degradation, or reuptake into the placental circulation for redistribution to affect development and function of fetal-placental tissues [53].…”

Comparison effects of dietary iron dextran and bacterial‐iron supplementation on growth performance, fecal microbial flora, and blood profiles in sows and their litters

“…Some previous studies have indicated that feeding an organic iron source to pregnant sows increases pig birth weight, fetal iron stores, piglet blood hemoglobin, and reduces postnatal pig mortalities, lowers the number of stillbirths, resulting in heavier weanling weights of pigs (Ducsay et al . ; Close ; Rincker et al . ; Peters & Mahan ,b).…”

Characterization and Developmental Expression of Binding Sites for the Transplacental Iron Transport Protein, Uteroferrin, in Fetal Hematopoietic Tissues

“…Highest expression of UF mRNA occurs during midto late pregnancy [5]: however, maximal syn thesis and secretion of the corresponding pro tein are observed only at midpregnancy [5,6]. The basis of the partial block in UF mRNA translation during late pregnancy is not un derstood: however, supplementation of mid pregnant gilts with Fe was positively corre lated with accumulation of UF in allantoic fluid [3], suggesting that Fe may enhance UF mRNA translation. The control of UF mRNA synthesis has been partially elucidated in vivo and in vitro.…”

“…Transport of Fe from the maternal uterus to the developing fetus during pregnancy in the pig is mediated, in part, by the uterine endometrial protein uteroferrin (UF) [1,2], U F bi nds two atoms of Fe per molecule and is taken up by the fetus via the umbilical vein, subsequent to its release from endometrial glandular epithelium and nonspecific uptake by specialized regions of chorion called areo lae, which overlies each gland [2], Porcine neonates suffer from iron deficiency anemia [3], and it was postulated that this condition may arise in part from a decrease in endome trial UF protein production during late preg nancy [4,5], UF mRNA and protein are tem porally regulated during pregnancy. Highest expression of UF mRNA occurs during midto late pregnancy [5]: however, maximal syn thesis and secretion of the corresponding pro tein are observed only at midpregnancy [5,6].…”