Urinary excretion of zinc and iron following injection of bacteria in the unanesthetized rabbit.

The effects of injection of bacteria (Pasteurella multocida) on the urinary excretion of zinc and iron (during the period when plasma concentrations of these trace metals were falling) were determined in unanesthetized New Zealand white rabbits. During the initial 2 h following injection with bacteria there was a trend towards an increased urinary excretion of zinc and iron. This short-term increase in zinc and iron excretion, however, could only account for a small percentage of the reduction in plasma concentrations of these trace metals that occurs during infection. We conclude that most of the reduction in plasma iron and zinc that occurs during infection is attributable to a redistribution within the body and not to increased excretion.