Iron transport after injection of endotoxin in rats

¹ Biomedical Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, Oklahoma

The injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide produces a rapid decline in plasma iron concentration of normal rats. To understand the mechanism of this decrease, combinations of acetylphenylhydrazine and endotoxins were given and measurements of rates of iron transfer from Fe⁵⁹-labeled damaged red blood cells to the plasma were made. Shortly after giving endotoxin there was an inhibition of the movement of iron from catabolized red blood cells to the plasma transferrin. This inhibition can be partially overcome by increasing the number of erythrocytes which are phagocytized in a given period of time. The major reason for the decrease in plasma iron after an injection of endotoxin was found to be an inhibited reutilization of iron from recently destroyed erythrocytes.

Key Words: endotoxin • iron metabolism • plasma iron • phagocytosis of erythrocytes • iron transport

Submitted on May 25, 1964

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