The Influence of Sex on Iron Utilization in Rats

Abstract

The iron content of carefully matched young male and female rats depleted to approximately 4 gm. of hemoglobin per 100 cc. of blood had an iron content of 0.013 ± 0.0004 mg. of iron per gram of body weight. The bodies of a group similarly depleted and then fed 0.0019 mg. of iron per gram of body weight until the hemoglobin reached 14 gm. per 100 cc. averaged for the males 0.030 ± 0.0003 mg. and for the females 0.034 ± 0.0005 mg. Another group fed 0.0038 mg. of iron per gram of body weight averaged for males 0.034 ± 0.0006 mg. and for females 0.038 ± 0.0007 mg. A third group fed 0.0057 mg. of iron per gram of body weight averaged 0.033 mg. for males and 0.037 mg. for females. The females stored on the average about 12% more iron than the males when the intake was the same per gram of body weight.