Maturation, iron deficiency, and ligands in enteric radioiron transport in vitro

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

The effects in rats, of age, iron-deficiency anemia, and ascorbic acid, citrate, fluoride, and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) on enteric radioiron transport were studied in vitro by an everted gut-sac technique. Sacs from young animals transported more than those from older ones. Proximal jejunal sacs from anemic animals transported more than similar sacs from nonanemic rats, but the reverse effect appeared in sacs formed from proximal duodenum. When added to media containing ascorbic acid or citrate, fluoride depressed transport as did anaerobic incubation in the presence of ascorbic acid. Anaerobic incubation in the presence of EDTA appeared to permit elevated transport. Ascorbic acid, citrate, and EDTA all enhanced the level of Fe⁵⁹ appearing in serosal media. These results appear to agree with previously established in vivo phenomena and tend to validate the in vitro method as one of promise for further studies of factors affecting iron absorption and of the mechanism of iron absorption.