The serum ferroxidase system and the effect of estrogen on plasma iron.
Estrogen effects on plasma iron and ferroxidase activity in some mammals and domestic fowl are studied, to investigate a possible estrogen mechanism on iron through its action on the ferroxidase system. Although estrogen generally induces ceruloplasmin, iron mobilization, characterized by a rise in plasma iron, was evident only in rats and chickens. Gonadotrophin treatment confirmed these results. A decreasing affect on plasma iron was noted in rabbits and guinea-pigs, substantiated by some bibliographical data. Ferroxidase activity increased and a copper-dependent factor was evident in copper injected species. Iron mobilization, however, was produced only in rats and chickens. D-penicillamine treatment considerably lowered ferroxidase activity in rats and suppressed the estradiol increasing plasma iron effect. This response to the copper-chelating drug did not take place in the other species. This phenomenon could be explained by the presence of two copper-dependent ferroxidases (ferroxidase I or ceruloplasmin and ferroxidase II) in rat plasma, as recently published.
D000818:Animals; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity
D004967:Estrogens; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D004958:Estradiol; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D010396:Penicillamine