Vitellogenin-iron and hemoglobin synthesis in avian reticulocytes.

Avian vitellogenin has been studied as an iron carrier for hemoglobin synthesis by reticulocytes. The Fe-vitellogenin uptake by the immature red cells is progressive with time, following an unspecific iron uptake process. The iron uptake from Fe-vitellogenin was in proportion to the immature red cells present and the radioactive iron was found in the hemoglobin synthesized by these cells. These results open up the possibility of assigning a secondary role to the Fe-vitellogenin in the avian erythropoiesis, added to the classical iron transport function for egg production.