Factors involved in the regulation of internal iron exchange

Abstract

The effects of various manoeuvres on the handling of 59pe labelled heat damaged red cells (59pe HDRC) by the reticuloendothelial system were studied in rats. The study demonstrated that prior saturation of transferrin with oral carbonyl iron had little effect on splenic release of 59pe but markedly inhibited hepatic release. Splenic release was, however, inhibited by the prior administration of unlabelled HDRC. The combination of carbonyl iron and unlabelled HDRC exerted a similar effect. When carbonyl iron was administered with unlabelled free haemoglobin, the pattern of 59Fe distribution was the same as that observed when carbonyl iron was given alone.