Changes in calcium uptake by liver induced by ferric lactate.

In vitro and in vivo Ca(2+)-uptake by the liver is increased by ferric lactate. In vitro albumin and deferoxamine inhibit ferric lactate effects. Electrophoresis demonstrates the binding of ferric lactate to albumin. In vivo, ferric lactate induces a significant increase of Ca(2+)-uptake by liver, with a maximum of 2.9 nmol/g against 0.66 nmol/g for control livers (P less than 0.005) between 5 and 24 h after administration. This uptake modification is reversible, while the amount of iron (measured as 59Fe taken up) remains constant throughout the experiment. The affinity of ferric lactate for protein and the iron mass-dependence of Ca(2+)-uptake increase support for the hypothesis of a ferric lactate-cell membrane interaction rather than an iron-catalyzed cell injury by lipid peroxidation as the major event leading to an increased Ca(2+)-uptake.