Abstract
The effects of oral contraceptive steroids (OCS) on the tissue concentration of bulk (calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium) and trace metals (iron, copper and zinc) in the iron-deficient rats were investigated. Weanling Wistar-strain female rats were fed a normal or iron-deficient diet for 8 weeks and OCS were added for the last 4 weeks.
Rats fed on iron-deficient diet decreased hemoglobin value, iron concentration in liver, spleen, kidney, heart and uterus, and calcium and sodium levels in spleen. But those rats increased liver copper, spleen magnesium and potassium, and uterus calcium concentration. OCS treatment elevated the calcium and sodium levels in liver, iron level in spleen, copper level in kidney and magnesium level in brain, but reduced the iron level in kidney.
The OCS treatment in the iron-deficient rat resulted in the reduction of copper concentration in liver and in the elevation of copper concentration of heart and spleen.
