(2008) Study of the eye and lacrimal glands in experimental iron overload in rats in vivo Anatomical Science International 83 (1) , 11–16 Maria Repanti, Sotiris P. Gartaganis, Nikoleta M. Nikolakopoulou, Aikaterini Ellina, Dimitris A. Papanastasiou Abstract Original Article Study of the eye and lacrimal glands in experimental iron overload in rats in vivo Maria Repanti 11 Institute of Pathology, St Andreas General Hospital of Patras and Departments of , Sotiris P. Gartaganis 22 Ophthalmology and , Nikoleta M. Nikolakopoulou 33 Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece, Aikaterini Ellina 33 Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece and Dimitris A. Papanastasiou 33 Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece1 Institute of Pathology, St Andreas General Hospital of Patras and Departments of 2 Ophthalmology and 3 Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece Correspondence: Dimitris A. Papanastasiou, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 265 00 Patras, Greece. Email: [email][/email] Key words: eye, hemosiderosis, lacrimal glands, transferrin. Abstract A variety of syndromes leading to hemosiderosis in men cause ocular lesions. The purpose of the present study was to determine the distribution of iron and of transferrin in the eyes and lacrimal glands of rats in experimental hemosiderosis, so as to achieve a better understanding of the formation of the ocular lesions observed in patients with advanced hemosiderosis. In order to achieve hemosiderosis the rats were fed 3% (w/w) carbonyl iron or received i.p. or i.v. polymaltose iron. Hemosiderin deposits were detected in macrophages lying in the interlobular connective tissue of lacrimal glands, in the interstitial connective tissue of the choroid, in the ciliary body, in the iris and extracellularly in the sclera in all animals that received iron i.v. Also, scanty hemosiderin laden macrophages were found to a lesser degree in interstitial connective tissue of the choroid and in the interlobular connective tissue of lacrimal glands in animals that received iron i.p. No iron deposits were detected in the eye and lacrimal glands of control rats and in rats that were on an iron enriched diet. No transferrin was detected in the eye and in the lacrimal glands, neither in the control rats nor in the rats that received iron. Experimental iron overload leads to increased iron deposition in tissues of the eye and lacrimal glands, whereas no transferrin could be detected in the aforementioned organs. doi:10.1111/j.1447-073X.2007.00195.x Anatomical Science International Volume 83 Issue 1 Page 11-16, March 2008 Who loves ya. Tom Jesus Was A Vegetarian! [URL]http://tinyurl.com/2r2nkh[/URL] Man Is A Herbivore! [URL]http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3[/URL] DEAD PEOPLE WALKING [URL]http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk[/URL]