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Transferrin Synthesis in the Rat: A Study Using the Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Author(s) -
Lane R. S.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1968.tb01550.x
Subject(s) - transferrin , erythropoiesis , medicine , ferritin , endocrinology , iron deficiency , catabolism , chemistry , anemia , immunology , biology , metabolism
The fluorescent antibody technique has been used to investigate transferrin synthesis in rats. The alteration in hepatic transferrin content has been noted in rats suffering from acute blood loss, chronic iron deficiency before and after treatment with iron, iron loading and localized hepatic sepsis. Marked changes in the transferrin content in the rat liver can be correlated with changes in erythropoietic rate, plasma transferrin concentration and the associated variation in catabolic rate of transferrin in these different situations. Rapid increases in hepatic transferrin content are considered to represent a synthetic response and are associated with elevation of plasma transferrin concentration. The synthesis response follows an extreme reduction in liver transferrin content; after acute blood loss and treatment of chronic iron deficiency anaemia with iron, a transferrin synthesis response coincides with the onset of erythropoiesis. The injection of iron‐dextran into normal rats appears to be associated with a suppression of transferrin synthesis during the period of peak hepatic ferritin formation. It is thought that iron influences transferrin synthesis through its regulatory effect on erythropoietic rate.