Studies on non-haemoglobin erythrocyte iron; the influence of haemolysis on plasma iron determinations

Approximately 2% of iron contained in mouse erythrocytes is transferred into supernatant when haemolysed erythrocytes are precipitated with trichloroacetic acid. The component unprecipitable with trichloroacetic acid is probably bound predominantly to reticulocytes and it is larger the younger is the reticulocyte. Under the conditions of postirradiation suppression of erythropoiesis this component grows strongly and in the phase of overrecovery of erythropoiesis decreases. The numerical values determined in the paper can be used for a correction of the disturbing influence of haemolysis on concentration and radioactivity of plasma iron in the resting state of erythropoiesis, if a preliminary precipitation of a sample with trichloroacetic acid was carried out.