Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on mRNA expression of iron metabolism related genes. Methods Ten male mice （2 months） were injected intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide（0.5 μg/g） After 6 hours, mice were sacrificed and then sera, liver and spleen were collected. The mice blood routine was measured. The serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined with reagent kit. The quasi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for mRNA of hepatic hepcidin(HP), ferroportin1(Fpn1), transferrin receptor 1(TfR1) and spleenic HP, Fpn1 and interleukin6(IL-6). Results The serum iron and TIBC were reduced in mice injected LPS, which exhibited mild anemia(EM>P/EM> 0.5). LPS can increase the expression of hepatic hepcidin and decrease Fpn1 and TfR1 in liver after LPS administration 6 hours(EM>P /EM>0.05). In spleen, IL-6 was upregulated and Fpn1 downr

Key words: Lipopolysaccharide, Interleukin-6, Hepcidin, Ferroportin 1, Transferrin receptor 1, RT-PCR, Rat