The effect of different iron sources on hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis, and the key genes related to iron metabolism in skeletal muscle in the weanling piglets

Abstract

Abstract This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different iron sources on hemoglobin and myoglobin (Mb) synthesis, and the mRNA expression of the key genes related to iron metabolism in skeletal muscle in the piglets. Forty eight piglets (Duroc × Large White × Landrace, 9.39 ± 1.55 kg, 40 ± 2 d) were assigned into four treatments including control group, a basal diet without iron supplemented in mineral premix; ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) group, the basal diet supplemented with FeSO4 to provide 100 mg supplemental Fe/kg dry matter (DM); ferrous glycinate (Fe-Gly) group, the basal diet supplemented with Fe-Gly to provide 80 mg supplemental Fe/kg DM; amino acid-Fe(II)-chelator complexes group, the basal diet supplemented with amino acid-Fe(II)-chelator complexes to provide 30 mg supplemental Fe/kg DM. There were six pens for each treatment, and each pen had two piglets. The experiment was lasted for 28 days. The results showed that different iron source supplementation increased the mean corpuscular hemoglobin in blood and Mb concentration in muscles (P < 0.05). FeSO4 and Fe-Gly supplementation increased the mean corpuscular volume and mean cell hemoglobin concentration in blood (P < 0.05). In addition, different iron source increased hephaestin expression in longissimus dorsi muscle (P < 0.1), decreased transferrin receptor 1 expression in longissimus dorsi muscle (P < 0.05), and increased lipocalin 2 expression in gastrocnemius muscle, respectively (P < 0.05). In summary, iron supplementation has positive effectiveness in myoglobin biosynthesis and can mobilize iron in muscles into the circulation regardless of iron sources.