Changes in the blood and iron metabolism in rats with alcoholic fatty livers.

The changes in the haematological parameters and iron metabolism in rats with fatty livers after they had been fed with 20% alcohol and normal standard diet for a period of 12 months were studied. The haematocrit, haemoglobulin concentration and erythrocyte count were within the normal range. The erythropoietic rate was elevated, probably as the result of the shortened life-span of the erythrocytes. The rate of iron absorption in the alcoholic rat did not vary. The iron stores in the spleen and small intestine were, however, markedly increased. The ferrokinetic study shows that the alcoholic rat had a lower plasma iron turnover rate. In view of the elevated erythropoiesis the implication of this finding is difficult to interpret when the efflux of plasma iron to the unspecific soft tissues is not available.