Accumulation of iron in the rabbit erythroid cell as affected by ouabain, sodium and potassium ions, and temperature.

Reticulocytosis was induced in rabbits with phenylhydrazine. The accumulation of a small part of (59)Fe in blood cells of these animals was inhibited by ouabain and related to changes in extracellular sodium and potassium concentrations. Sodium increases movement from the cell surface into the cell, whereas potassium and ouabain decrease this movement. (59)Fe movement was found to be temperature-dependent. Thus, the Na-K ATPase system appears to be important in the movement of iron from the cell membrane (stroma) to the cell interior, but influences only a small part of the total iron transport.