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Normal Values and Physiological Variations of Plasma Iron and Total Iron-Binding Capacity in Pigs

National Institute of Animal Industry, Chiba, Japan

Abstract

THE reports on the biochemical and biophysical knowledge of iron metabolism in pigs are few and their aspects have been discussed generally from the viewpoint of hematology. Therefore, plasma iron (PI) which is of significance in iron metabolism and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) of transferrin have been studied in our laboratory as one step of studies on iron metabolism and anemia in piglets.

An excellent report of ferrokinetics in pigs was authored by Jensen et al. (1955). However, normal values and physiological variations necessary for the evaluation of their values remain obscure. In addition, there is some difference between species of animals according to the determinations of serum iron in humans and rabbits (Matsubara, 1963).

This study was conducted to establish normal values and physiological variations for PI and TIBC in pigs and to clarify the relationships of these values to iron metabolism and anemia in piglets.

Yorkshire, Landrace, Berskire swine and their crossbreds used in this study were reared on concrete in a barn with an adjacent exercise area.

¹ Laboratory of the Physiology of Meat Production.

² The author wishes to acknowledge with thanks Dr. M. Saito, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Branch Hospital, University of Tokyo, for his valuable instructions on the method for determination of plasma iron and total iron-binding capacity.