The Role of Hepatic Iron Stores in the Control of Iron Absorption*

Abstract

Removal of 0.6-0.8mg of body-iron stores by partial hepatectomy was performed in rats. Following the operative procedure the absorption of an oral dose of iron59 was measured in a small animal whole-body liquid scintillation detector at weekly intervals for 21 days. When compared to a group of sham operated animals there was no significant increase in iron absorption. The same quantity of iron lost by blood-letting of 1.5ml in normal animals produced a measurable increase in iron absorption. Seven days following hepatectomy the liver had regenerated to preoperative weight and the non-heme iron content was reduced 75%. During the following 3 weeks there was a gradual increase in liver iron stores with a commensurate drop in the iron content of the spleen. This suggests that the partial return of liver iron was due to redistribution of remaining iron stores. Under the preScht experimental conditions, direct reduction of the hepatic iron store was not an effective stimulus to absorption of iron.