Depression Red Cell Iron Turnover by Transfusion

Abstract

12 female Slonaker strain rats which weighed 180-210 g. were studied by the Fe turnover technic of Huff. Six of these rats were rendered plethoric by seven 2 ml. intraperit. transfusions, in 6 days, from previously unbled donors. No donor was reused. On the 8th day the mean red cell volume of the plethoric group was 5.4 cc./100 g. of rat. The mean red cell volume of the control animals was 2.53 ml./100 g. of rat. The % reticulocytes in the transfused animals declined from a mean control level of 4.3% S. D. [plus or minus] 1.6% to less than 0.3% by the 8th day of the transfusion period when the Fe turnover studies were started. The Fe turnover in red cells in [mu]g./day in the over-transfused group was less than 10% that in the control animals. The transient depression in erythrogenesis was reflected in a much higher fraction of the injected radio-active Fe in equilibrium with the liver Fe of the exptl. animals as compared to the radioactive Fe in the livers of the control animals, at necropsy on the 17th day after injn.