Premium
A Study of Storage Iron in the Pregnant Rat
Author(s) -
Wyllie John C.,
Kaufman Nathan
Publication year - 1971
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.1365-2141.1971.tb07042.x
Subject(s) - ferritin , spleen , iron deficiency , chemistry , iron status , pregnancy , medicine , biochemistry , biology , anemia , genetics
S ummary . It has been established that maternal storage iron is depleted during pregnancy in order to supply part of the iron required by the developing foetus and by the increasing red cell mass of the mother. It is also accepted that ferritin and haemosiderin are equally available as sources of storage iron. We measured the quantity of ferritin and haemosiderin in the liver and spleen of the rat at intervals during the latter half of pregnancy and have shown that ferritin iron is reduced whereas haemosiderin iron remains unchanged. The 2 and 24 hr uptake of 59 Fe by these compounds was also measured. 59 Fe is incorporated into both compounds; the uptake of 59 Fe by ferritin falls in late pregnancy. Newlydeposited 59 Fe is withdrawn from ferritin but not from haemosiderin. These results indicate that ferritin is the major source of storage iron in the pregnant rat. Ferritin iron is reduced in the liver and spleen because of a decreased uptake of iron as well as an increased mobilization.