Intestinal iron absorption and mucosal transferrin in rats subjected to hypoxia

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00367458
• Publication Date: 2006-02-23T06:01:11Z
• Authors: Kurt R. S. Osterloh; R. J. Simpson; S. Snape; T. J. Peters
• Keywords: Hypoxia; Tissue hypoxia

Three days hypoxia (0.5 atm) increased the haemoglobin and haematocrit values in rats paralleled by enhanced intestinal iron absorption. The destination of recently-absorbed iron was primarily the erythropoietic system, viz. bone marrow, spleen and red cells. Total plasma transferrin, was increased by 30%, but no significant changes in mucosal transferrin were found. No increase in labelling of mucosal transferrin by absorbed iron was observed. These results suggest that mucosal transferrin does not play a major role in the regulation of intestinal iron absorption in hypoxia.