FERROKINETIC AND ERYTHROCYTE SURVIVAL STUDIES IN HEALTHY AND ANEMIC CATS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (3) , 424-427
Abstract
Erythrocte survival and ferrokinetic studies were adapted to the cat. For 5 clinically healthy 4- to 9-mo. old cats, mean 51Cr-labeled erythrocyte survival was 144 h and mean plasma 59Fe-labeled transferrin disappearance half-life [t1/2] was 51 min. Erythrocyte use of radioiron was rapid and efficient, with 50-80% of labeled Fe incorporated into the erythron by 100 h after injection into the cat. Six cats with feline leukemia virus infection were studied. For 2 cats with erythroid aplasia associated with C subgroup of feline leukemia virus, erythrocyte survival times were similar to those determined for the healthy cats, but plasma radioiron disappearance t1/2 and erythrocyte use of radioiron were markedly diminished.