STUDIES OF THE INCORPORATION OF Fe59 INTO NORMAL AND ABNORMAL HEMOGLOBINS*

Abstract

Following the intravenous administration of Fe59 to patients with hemoglobin abnormalities (and disseminated neoplastic disease) and to rabbits, the incorporation of the isotope in various hemoglobin components was studied. Studies in individuals with sickle cell trait, hemoglobin C trait, electrophoretically rapid major hemoglobin component of the "J group", probable hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin production and thalassemia major revealed no difference in Fe59 incorporation in the major components. Observations on the minor electrophoretically rapid components of hemoglobin in a patient with sickle cell trait confirmed the observations of others that the isotopic activity of this hemoglobin A3 component gradually increased the 50-day period of study. Studies of the incorporation of Fe59 into the electrophoretically rapid component of the hemoglobin of rabbits also supported the hypothesis that the formation of an electrophoretically rapid hemoglobin component in experimental animals is correlated with erythrocyte aging. The possibility that factors other than cell aging may influence the formation of this electrophoretically rapid normal component was discussed.