Hemolysis and Erythropoiesis V. The Utilization of Hemoglobin Iron by Bled Anemic Dogs

SummaryTwo dogs with anemia induced by bleeding were injected intramuscularly with iron dextran to replace the iron lost through the bleedings. They were given intraperitoneally 1.5 ml/kg/day of a hemolysate containing 15 g/100 ml of 59Fe-labeled hemoglobin. Seventeen and 24.7% of the injected heme-59Fe was reincorporated in the RBC, which accounted for only 13.9 and 11.9% of the iron present in the hemoglobin gained following injections of hemolysate. These results indicate that the 60.7% increase in hemoglobin production after hemolysate administration observed in previous similar experiments (1), cannot be ascribed to availability of large amounts of heme iron.