Pathophysiological studies on ferric iron. Part I. Chemi­cal reaction between ferric iron and serum

By mixing ferric iron with serum protein, 20 cc of serum and 1 cc of ferric chloride or ferric ammonium sulfate (l0 mg ferric iron/cc in each), in the range of pH 5.4 to 8.2, a transparent brownish red colored solution can be obtained. Paperelectrochromatography proved the iron can mainly be detected in β-globulin fraction in bovine serum and in &#945-globulin and albumin fractions in human and rabbit sera. But the absorption spectrum proved that there is no formation of any new compound, giving almost the same absorption curve as in the serum protein itself. And by lowering the pH of media below 5.4, the solution gives immediately the positive reaction of ferric iron. From these rerults it is suggested that iron will be maintained in a colloidal state keeping the stability of this state in the presence of protein molecules. Freezing and drying are the procedures quite useful for keeping this material for a long period of time without changing the chemical characteristics.