Accumulation of low molecular weight (bleomycin detectable) iron in bone marrow cells of rats after benzene exposure.

An accumulation of low molecular weight (LMW) bleomycin detectable iron in the bone marrow was observed after administration of benzene (IP 0.5 ml/kg, daily) for 5 and 10 days in female albino rats. However, this LMW iron was not detectable in the bone marrow of rats from the control group. Studies of bone marrow fractionation showed that the maximum accumulation of this LMW iron was in the mitochondrial fraction. An increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation was also noticed in the benzene exposed groups.