Utilization of Iron by Scorbutic Guinea Pigs.

W E REPORTED EARLIER1 that scorbutic guinea pigs showed normocytic and normochromic anemia with normoblastic reaction of bone marrow, diminished plasma iron, decreased iron binding capacity of plasma, increased free erythrocyte protopofl)hyrin and a low sideroblast percentage with high hemosiderin content of bone marrow. These changes could not be attributed to inanition, intestinal hemorrhage, defective absorption of iron or intravascular hemolysis. The observations indicated defective utilization of iron in the scorbutic condition. Therapeutic response to iron in cases of anemia of scurvy, without simultaneous administration of ascorbic acid, had been reported2 which, however, could not be confirmed by others.3’4 The present report deals with the effect of administration of iron on the hematologic picture and tissue iron distribution in the scorbutic guinea pig.