THE DISTRIBUTION OF FE59 TAGGED HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES IN CENTRIFUGED SPECIMENS AS A FUNCTION OF CELL AGE

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Abstract
The distribution of Fe59 in the top, middle and bottom layers of centrifuged erythrocyte specimens was determined at intervals after intravenous administration of the isotope to 8 hematologically normal subjects. The Fe59 concentration was highest initially in the top layer, increased in the bottom layer between the 15th and 90th day and then decreased in the bottom layer after the 90th day. Data indicate that the top, middle, and bottom layers of centrifuged erythrocytes have young, intermediate and old mean cell ages respectively. A simple method was suggested for estimating the mean life span of ageing erythrocytes from the changes in Fe59 distri bution.
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