Regulation of divalent metal transporter-1 by serine phosphorylation.

Divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) mediates dietary iron uptake across the intestinal mucosa and facilitates peripheral delivery of iron released by transferrin in the endosome. Here, we report that classical cannabinoids (Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ-THC), nonclassical cannabinoids (CP 55,940), aminoalkylindoles (WIN 55,212-2) and endocannabinoids (anandamide) reduce Fe and Mn uptake by HEK293T(DMT1) cells stably expressing the transporter. siRNA knockdown of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) abrogated inhibition.

Olfactory ferric and ferrous iron absorption in iron-deficient rats.

The absorption of metals from the nasal cavity to the blood and the brain initiates an important route of occupational exposures leading to health risks. Divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) plays a significant role in the absorption of intranasally instilled manganese, but whether iron uptake would be mediated by the same pathway is unknown. In iron-deficient rats, blood (59)Fe levels after intranasal administration of the radioisotope in the ferrous form were significantly higher than those observed for iron-sufficient control rats.

Influence of Iron Deficiency on Olfactory Behavior in Weanling Rats.

Chronically high occupational exposure to airborne metals like iron can impair olfactory function, but little is known about how low iron status modifies olfactory behavior. To investigate the influence of body iron status, weanling rats were fed a diet with low iron content (4 - 7 ppm) to induce iron deficiency anemia and olfactory behavior was compared to control rats fed an isocaloric diet sufficient in iron (210 - 220 ppm). Iron-deficient rats had prolonged exploratory time for attractive odorants in behavioral olfactory habituation/dis-habituation tests, olfactory preference tests and olfactory sensitivity tests compared with control rats.