The relationship between ferritin and hemosiderin in rabbits and man.

Iron is stored in tissues as ferritin and hemosiderin. These compounds are increased in a state of iron excess and become depleted with iron deficiency (2). Both may be considered to represent iron reserves which may be mobilized when needed. The functional relationship between these two compounds has been a matter of speculation. It has been suggested that the ferritin fraction represents more “labile” iron reserves; it has been suggested also that ferritin and hemosiderin are different physical forms of the same ironprotein complex (3). The present studies are an attempt to clarify the relationship of these compounds in animals and man.