Iron overload refers to a condition in which iron supply exceeds the body’s demand, resulting in excessive total body iron and abnormal iron deposition. This can lead to structural damage and dysfunction in vital organs. In addition to causing skin hyperpigmentation, iron overload impairs the function of multiple organs and tissues including the liver, heart and pancreas. Iron dextran is a commonly used anti-anemia drug in clinical practice. Intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran into normal mice results in excessive iron accumulation and establishes an iron-overload model. The liver is the major iron-storage organ in the body. During dissection, the liver in the control group appears ruddy and soft in texture, whereas the liver in the iron-overload group is dark in color and relatively firm.

C57BL/6 mice (male, 4 weeks old)
Modeling method: intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran, twice a week for a total of 4 weeks.
Evaluation indicators: gross observation, blood glucose change detection, HE staining

Gross observation

Detection of blood glucose changes

HE staining of liver tissue