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M.Sc. / Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a large fraction of the world’s infectious diseases, particularly AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and Tuberculosis (TB) and at the same time, iron (Fe) overload is common to several of its regions. Excess Fe aids in the replication of both Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis, Lounis, 2001; Georgiou, 2000) and also causes a malfunction of the host’s defense system and may ultimately lead to cell death. Not only does iron assist in pathogen survival but the pathogens themselves have a synergistic relationship where infection of one supports the replication of the other (Toosi, 2001; Bonecini-Almeida et al., 1998). Controlling the replication of these pathogens as well as the iron overload simultaneously becomes a huge task as many pathogenic and host factors needs to be considered at once. Desferrioxamine (DFO), a chelator commonly used to treat clinical conditions of iron overload has been reported to inhibit the multiplication of pathogens and at the same time extract the excess iron.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1944. / Reproduced from type-written copy. Vita. Bibliography: p. [30]-35.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Imperatorskai︠a︡ voenno-medit︠s︡inskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡, 1903-1904. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise and dietary iron on various components of iron metabolism in 13 month old female rats. Fifty-six 13 month old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups of treatment: baseline (BL); 40ppm iron, exercise (40 E); 9ppm iron, exercise (9 E); 40ppm iron, non- exercise (40 NE); 9ppm iron, non-exercise (9 NE). The exercise protocol involved swimming the exercise groups for a period of six weeks, starting with 10 minutes/day until the rats were swimming for 1 hour/day, 5 days/ week, at the sixth week. Results indicated no significant differences in food intake and body weight among the groups. Hematocrit values were similar among groups and did not show significant effects of diet, activity or interaction. Hemoglobin values demonstrated significant effects of activity with values being elevated in the exercise groups (p ≤0.05). No significant effects of diet and interaction on hemoglobin concentrations were observed. Serum iron levels were significantly affected by dietary intake of iron, with levels being lower in the groups consuming the moderately-deficient diet (p≤0.05). Serum iron levels were not significantly affected by activity or interaction of diet and activity. TIBC levels did not demonstrate significant effects of diet, activity or interaction (p<0.05). Tissue weights of liver, spleen, heart, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were similar among groups. Iron concentrations in the liver and spleen showed significant effects of diet, activity and interaction (p≤0.05). Iron levels were lower in the groups consuming moderately-deficient intakes of dietary iron and were also lower in the exercised animals. Concentrations were significantly lower in the 9 E group than in the 40 E group. Iron concentrations in the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly affected by diet, activity and interaction of diet and activity, and were significantly lower in the exercised animals as compared to their sedentary counterparts. Soleus iron concentrations were similar among groups. The results suggest that there is an iron cost associated with exercise as evidenced by elevated hemoglobin levels and depleted iron stores in the liver, spleen and gastrocnemius muscle. It appears that the body undergoes. physiological adaptions in response to the stress of exercise and therefore prevents anemia by maintaining the iron stores at compromised levels. / Master of Science

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