The relationship between plasma iron and plasma iron turnover in the rat
W Bauer, S Stray, H Huebers and C Finch
Plasma iron turnover has been evaluated in the growing rat. Consistent data
were obtained with the intravenous injection of radioiron in the form of
ferrous sulfate or ferric citrate. Plasma iron turnover changed as a
function of plasma iron concentration. Only part of this effect in the rat
was due to the different rates of clearance of mono-and differic
transferrin, the latter having a higher iron delivery rate in vivo. An
additional effect was shown to relate to the rate of red cell production.
With decreased production, the effect of plasma iron on plasma iron
turnover was reduced, whereas with increased erythropoiesis there was an
additional increment in plasma iron turnover for any increase in plasma
iron. Since this effect was observed when increased iron demands were due
to an increase in erythroid precursors in the marrow but not in the
circulating blood, it is attributed to limitations in iron flow to the
marrow. This suggests that erythroid marrow activity and the adequacy of
iron supply when studied by ferrokinetic techniques can best be defined by
the response curve relating plasma iron concentration to plasma iron
turnover.
Volume 57,
Issue 2,
pp. 239-242,
02/01/1981
Copyright © 1981 by The American Society of Hematology
