Serum iron in pigeons

Abstract

The iron content and the total iron-binding canacity in pigeon-serum has ben determined, according to the Ramsay’smethods.

The average valúes for females and males have been obtai- ned. Also the females valúes are determined separately, accord­ ing to their sexual State. The difference between the average valúes is significant in the two female groups. That is why a manifest difference between the sexs, is found when the males are compared whit the immature females

The elevation of the iron in the females in sexual activity agrees with our data on other species (hens, ducks, geese, etc.)(2, 3, 4) but this increase is lower, according to smaller necessi- ties of Fe for the laying.

The serum iron in the males is the most elcvatcd valué that has been found in other birds.

The valúes of the total binding capacity in the pigcons do not show significant sexual differences, same result obtaining for the two female groups. The average valúes of the total bind­ ing capacity differ very little from those found in the tur-key (1) and in the hens (2), but as with these, they are clearly separated from the results found in the duck and goose (3).

The utilizatiou of an immunoelectrophoretic technique has demostrated the existence of conalbumin in pigeon serum. The possible intervention of this protein is suggested as an auxi- liary element to transferrin in the transport of iron, as has been supposed with other birds studied by us (4).