THE ANEMIA OF INFECTION. III. THE UPTAKE OF RADIO-ACTIVE IRON IN IRON-DEFICIENT AND IN PYRIDOXINE-DEFICIENT PIGS BEFORE AND AFTER ACUTE INFLAMMATION 1

Abstract

Since the investigators found a marked disturbance in Fe metabolism in association with the anemia of infection, the uptake of radioactive Fe was studied in exptl. animals. Observations were made in normal, growing and mature pigs, in Fe-deficient and in pyridoxine-deficient pigs and in such animals when inflammation was produced by various means. Two different quantities of Fe were used, one corresponding to the amt. assumed to be absorbed daily from the diet and the other corresponding to the estimated amt. derived from normal Hb metabolism. In Fe deficiency the uptake of radioactive Fe was rapid and complete. In pyridoxine deficiency, it was slow and even negligible if large doses were used. In normal animals, the findings were intermediate between these extremes. In the presence of inflammation, the uptake of Fe by Fe-deficient animals was markedly impaired in spite of the pronounced avidity of such an animal for Fe when infection is not present. Likewise, the rapid and efficient Fe uptake which follows the admn. of pyridoxine in pyridoxine-deficient pigs was found to be markedly reduced by the presence of infection. These observations indicate that the anemia of infection is caused by impaired Hb production rather than by increased blood destruction. In association with infection anemia does not appear at once because it is only when outworn red corpuscles must be replaced that the defect is noticeable.