Bio-inorganic regulation of pathways of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. II. The effect of iron-deficiency on the profile of enzymes in the developing rat adrenal gland.

The effect of iron-deficiency anaemia and iron supplementation on the enzyme profile and conversion of specifically labelled glucose to 14CO2 and 14C-lipid was measured in rat adrenal glands. Enzymes involved in lipogenesis were severely depressed in iron deficiency, addition of Fe2+ to the diet resulted in increased activity of fatty acid synthetase (+75%), NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase (+466%), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (+27%) and malic enzyme (+46%). Parallel increases occurred in the flux of glucose into lipid. The effects of iron-deficiency anaemia on adrenal and thyroid function in relation to developmental processes are discussed.