THE EFFECTS OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON SERUM AND STORAGE IRON IN ADULT FEMALE RATS1

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Abstract
Previous work indicated that the anemia induced by hypophysectomy in adult [male] or [female] rats was a microcytic hypochromic, anemia which could be alleviated by treatment with thyroxine and Fe. Because of these findings, it was thought that the hypophysis might have something to do with Fe metabolism. Adult [female] rats of the Long-Evans strain were divided into 3 groups, i.e., normal controls, hypophysectomized, and pair-fed controls given the same arat. of food as consumed by hypophysectomized rats. Fe detns. were made on serum, liver, spleen, heart, both kidneys, and muscle. All organs were viviperfused before detns. were made. Serum Fe was decreased after hypophysectomy but storage Fe was increased. Although Fe was available, the hypophysectomized rats did not produce a normal amt. of Hb. The pair-fed animals exhibited similar results although these animals were able to produce Hb to a greater degree than hypophysectomized rats.