QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dallman, P. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dallman, P. R.

Iron Restriction in the Nursing Rat: Early effects upon tissue heme proteins, hemoglobin and liver iron¹

Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California

Rats were made iron deficient between 10 and 21 days of age by restricting their customary access to nonmaternal sources of iron. The depression of cytochrome c and myoglobin concentrations in skeletal muscle and of cytochrome c in intestinal mucosa became comparable to and, in some instances, was more profound than the concomitant 34% mean decrease in hemoglobin concentration. These conditions did not interfere with normal gain in body weight. Thus, tissue heme protein deficiency was one of the early manifestations of iron depletion during a period of rapid growth. Earlier and more stringent iron deficiency in newborns was also produced by treating the mothers with an iron-chelating agent starting at 16 days of gestation to 21 days postnatally. This treatment reduced the rate of growth of the young and resulted in a more marked diminution in the concentration of hemoglobin. There was little additional effect, however, upon cytochrome c in skeletal muscle or intestinal mucosa in comparison with the mildly iron-restricted group. A significant depression was also observed in heart muscle and in kidney. The concentration of cytochrome c in brain was least affected. The rapid rate of growth and differentiation that characterizes most organs during the newborn period is probably a predisposing factor to a more widespread and rapid tissue heme protein depletion than that observed in adult animals.

² Recipient of Public Health Service Research Career Program Award HE 31766.

³ Present address: Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94122.

Manuscript received 25 October 1968.