[Siwu decoction improves iron deficiency anemia in infant rats and regulates iron metabolism].

To investigate the effect of Siwu decoction on improving iron deficiency anemia in infant rats and observe its regulatory effects on iron metabolism. SD rats were fed with low iron fodder for 2 weeks, and then the rats with hemoglobin level less than 75 g•L ⁻¹ were screened out and randomly divided into model group, Ferrous succinate 50 mg•kg ⁻¹ group, Siwu decoction 4 g•kg ⁻¹, 8 g•kg ⁻¹ and 16 g•kg ⁻¹ groups. After 4 weeks' gavage administration, Wright-Giemsa's staining of blood smear and HE staining of the livers were conducted, and all rats were tested for blood routine, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, serum hepcidin and liver hepcidin. The expression levels of liver ferritin, transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were also detected. The results showed that as compared with normal group, the activity level of model group was decreased, and the color and lustre of auricles and toes were pale white; the number of red blood cells was decreased; the volume was smaller, with an increased zone of central pallor; the body weight and blood routine parameters were decreased significantly; the livers were pale red, and the hepatic cords around thecentral veins were unclear and misaligned; the serum iron, serum ferritin, liver iron levels and the expression of liver ferritin were decreased significantly; the total iron binding capacity, serum hepcidin, liver hepcidin, the expression levels of liver transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were significantly increased, indicating successful establishment of models. As compared with the model group, activity was increased in Siwu decoction group; the color and lustre of auricles and toes were ruddy; the number of red blood cells was increased; the volume was larger, with a decreased zone of central pallor; the body weight and blood routine parameters were increased significantly; the livers were red, hepatic cords around the central veins were clear and aligned;the serum iron, serum ferritin, liver iron levels and the expression of liver ferritin were significantly increased, the total iron binding capacity, serum hepcidin, liver hepcidin, the expression of liver transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were decreased significantly. The results demonstrated that Siwu decoction had a certain effect on improving iron deficiency anemia in infant rats, and the mechanism may be associated with the regulatory effect of hepcidin iron metabolism.