THE ANEMIA OF INFECTION. VII. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FREE ERYTHROCYTE PROTOPORPHYRIN, TOGETHER WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANING OF THE “EASILY SPLIT-OFF” IRON 1

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Abstract
The free protoporphyrin of the erythrocytes (EP) as well as the "easily split off" Fe (ESFe) were measured in reticulocytes and in mature cells taken from the blood of (1) rabbits in which anemia was produced by giving phenylhydrazine; (2) sheep in which anemia was caused by injecting anti-sheep red cell hemolysin; (3) pigs in which pyridoxine-deficiency anemia was produced and subsequently treated; (4) dogs and pigs in which splenic stasis was induced; and (5) a human subject with pernicious anemia treated with pteroylglutamic acid. The EP increased and reached a maximal level simultaneously with or just prior to the reticulocytosis observed in these conditions. The EP did not increase in the hemolytic anemias when the blood destruction was maximal. The content of EP was very much greater in reticulocytes than in mature red corpuscles. An increase in EP was also observed in the red cells taken from the splenic vein following stasis. The ESFe increased in the first 24 hrs. following the injn. of phenylhydrazine and then decreased at the time of maximal increase of reticulocytes. The content of ESFe in reticulocytes was less than in mature corpuscles. These observations are interpreted as indicating that (a) an increase in EP usually signifies uncompleted Hb synthesis whieh may be the consequence of the liberation of immature cells or is due to Fe deficiency, toxic factors or other causes. An increase in EP may possibly also result from Hb degradation; and (b) the ESFe is a degradation product of Hb associated with destruction, maturation, and perhaps senescence of red corpuscles.