Distribution of Total Ferritin in Intestine and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Horses After Iron Feeding.

Abstract

The distr. of total ferritin in the intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes of a control horse and 2 horses fed approx. 30 g. of Fe was investigated. Increases in the ferritin content of certain parts of the intestines were observed 24 and 48 hrs. respectively after feeding Fe. A 4- to 5-fold increase in the ferritin content of the mesenteric lymph nodes was also found. The data suggest that ferritin is involved in the absorption of Fe in the horse, and that the lymphatic system is concerned with Fe absorption by some process in which ferritin also plays a role.