The Effects of Acute Protein Depletion on the Distribution of Radioiron in Rat Tissues

1. The distribution of Fe⁵⁹ in plasma, bone marrow, erythrocytes, liver, and spleen was determined at specified intervals after single intravenous injections of the radioisotope into normal and protein-deficient rats.

2. In normal rats, injected radioiron followed the usual metabolic pathways; i.e., through bone marrow to erythrocytes, with small, consistent amounts to liver and spleen.

3. In protein-deficient animals normal Fe⁵⁹ time-concentration relationships were disrupted completely.

4. Less iron was recovered from the tissues of protein-deficient rats than from normal animals.

5. Storage iron in liver and spleen was not conjugated with polysaccharide, even though tissue protein was seriously depleted.