Studies on the Iron Metabolism in Hookworm Disease by means of Radioactive Iron (Fe(59)) Administration Part 2. Effects of the Injection of Hookworm Emulsion on the Iron Metabolism

After the oral administration of radioactive iron, Fe(59), to the rabbits injected with emulsion of hookworms from human or dogs and to normal rabbits (control), the author investigated the effects of toxin of the hookworm body on the iron metabolism. As the results the rabbits injected with hookworm emulsion show the lower rate of absorption by the digestive tract and up-take of the absorbed Fe(59) to erythrocytes when compared with the control, and Fe(59) tends to be distributed more in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. At the same time the iron contents in organs show a tendency of an increase as compared with the control. From these findings it appears that toxin in the body of hookworm plays an important role in the disturbances of the absorption and mobilization of iron. In addition, the author conducted similar experiments on the rabbits with chronic anemia by blood depletion and on the rabbits with benzol anemia and compared their results.