SQUID magnetometry of biogenic iron in blood and tissues of laboratory animals

Determining the amount of iron in tissue and blood samples from laboratory animals allows us to understand the relationships of its metabolism in the body. Common laboratory methods do not allow us to distinguish between different forms of iron, so SQUID magnetometry appears to be a suitable tool for monitoring these changes. Various iron-containing proteins found in blood and tissues were investigated, namely hemoglobin, hematin, myoglobin, and ferritin. Hysteresis dependencies of the corresponding concentration models of these proteins at 2 K and 300 K confirmed that the iron content corresponds to a change in magnetic saturation (Ms), while different types of iron have a significant effect on coercivity (Hc). The relationships between the magnetic properties of liver and blood samples, stress, dimethyl fumarate administration, and the expression of genes affecting iron metabolism were monitored.

Related projects: PLÁN OBNOVY A ODOLNOSTI SR 09I03-03-V04-00528, APVV-22-0296.

The result was achieved in collaboration with the Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology CEM SAS, v. v. i.

Publications:

• ŠKRÁTEK, Martin**– MAŇKA, Ján – KLUKNAVSKÝ, Michal – BERNÁTOVÁ, Iveta. Measurement of haemoglobin iron content in the blood of laboratory animals with the SQUID magnetometer. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Measurement. – Bratislava, Slovakia : Institute of Measurement Science, SAS, 2025, p. 27-30. ISBN 978-80-69159-01-3. Dostupné na: https://doi.org/10.23919/MEASUREMENT66999.2025.11078692

• Michal Kluknavsky, Peter Balis, Andrea Mičurova, Martin Skratek, Jan Manka, Iveta Bernatova, Surgery and Acute Stress Decrease NRF2 mRNA Expression and Promote Iron Metabolism Alteration, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Gene Expression in the Liver of Prehypertensive Rats. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, v tlači (Q2, SCIMAGO)