Iron metabolism in duck and turkey

Abstract

In 16 ducks and 12 turkeys the plasma iron turnover with Fe” has been determined. The Fe50 globular apparition and its presence in the eggs has also been analyzed. A great turnover increase in laying females has been observed. These results agreed with our previous studies in the fowl and that would allow to consider it as a comun feature in birds.

The plasma iron clearance and the T 1/2 values in these species are about the same observed in fowl but here a direct take up of iron from the transferrin hy means of reticulocytes has been found.

The reappearance curve of Fe50 in blood cells records an inflexion point that could be assigned to the erythrocyte life span. We consider as approximative a mean live span of 25 and 45 days for erythrocytes of turkey and duck respectively.

The egg radioactivity shows a maximum between the 5th and the 10th day and then another one according to the Fe50 liberation from blood cell destruction.