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A Study of Storage Iron in the Placental and Foetal Tissues of the Rat
Author(s) -
Kaufman Nathan,
Wyllie John C.
Publication year - 1972
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.1365-2141.1972.tb05675.x
Subject(s) - ferritin , placenta , yolk sac , hemosiderin , chemistry , andrology , yolk , metabolism , iron deficiency , hemochromatosis , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , biology , fetus , anemia , pregnancy , immunology , embryo , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
S ummary Part of the iron entering the placenta late in gestation is stored as ferri‐tin and haemosiderin; the function of placental storage iron is not known. 50–60% of foetal iron is found within storage compounds. There are relatively few studies of the foetal tissues responsible for the synthesis of storage iron‐protein. In order to investigate these aspects of iron metabolism we measured the quantity and concentration of ferritin and haemosiderin iron in the placental and foetal tissues of the rat during the latter part of gestation; the incorporation of 59 Fe into these compounds was also investigated. Placental ferritin and haemosiderin iron reached peak values on day 17. A 40% decrease in the quantity of ferritin iron by day 19, without a corresponding change in placental weight, indicated mobilization of iron from placental ferritin; haemosiderin iron remained unchanged. On day 21 (parturition) both iron storage compounds again increased in quantity. The amounts of storage iron deposited in the allantoic placenta and yolk sac were similar until day 21 when the former tissue contained 75% of the total quantity. The concentration of ferritin iron was higher in the yolk sac on days 17 and 19. The major portion of foetal ferritin and haemosiderin was deposited late in gestation. The carcass and liver were the principal sites involved although small amounts were found in the spleen and gastrointestinal tract. The incorporation of 59 Fe by ferritin and haemosiderin confirmed the results obtained by chemical analysis and also showed that there was a steady addition of iron to both compounds throughout the latter part of gestation.