Reduced leucocyte alkaline phosphatase activity and decreased NBT reduction test in induced iron deficiency anaemia in rabbits.

Iron deficiency anaemia was induced in rabbits by repeated bleeding. The leucocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) of 26 +/- 28 units was significantly reduced compared with control values of 233 +/- 35 units (P less than 0.001). Leucocyte NBT reduction was also diminished, both in Hanks solution (P less than 0.01) and in autologous serum (P less than 0.001). After administration of iron, these values returned to normal. The results suggest that reduced LAP may reflect a deficiency of iron dependent constituents which are necessary for the integrity of normal granulocyte metabolism.