title: Experimental iron deficiency in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).
abstract: An animal model was developed in which the effect of iron deficiency on the oral mucosa could be studied. Iron deficiency was induced by feeding hamsters a low-iron powdered diet together with withdrawal of 0.5 ml of blood weekly, for a period of 9 weeks. At the end of this period the mean haematological values for control animals were, Hb 15.9 g/dl, plasma iron 40.3 mumol/l, TIBC 90.5 mumol/l and transferrin saturation 44.5%, compared with 7.4, 7.2, 111.4 and 6.5 respectively for experimental animals. These results were reproducible in successive groups of animals and indicate that this is a useful model for the study of iron deficiency anaemia.
mesh_terms: D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron