ABNORMALITIES IN ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATASE OF THE ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANEIN IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

During iron deficiency, rat and human erythrocyte membrane enzyme acti vities (Total ATPase and Ouabain-sensitive Na+.K+ ATPase) showed signi ficant (P<0.001) decrease. The influence of iron deficiency on erythro cyte Na+ and K+ was also studied in rats and humans. The former parame ter showed a significant (P<0.01) increase while the latter showed a d ownward trend. Plasma Fe and Total Iron Binding capacity (TIBC) in iro n deficiency varied significantly (P<0.05) from normal values. These r esults suggest a defect in erythrocyte membrane function and a possibl e potentiating effect of intracellular Na+, plasma Fe and TIBC on ATPa se activity in iron deficiency. Values obtained for rats and humans sh owed differences in the activities of membrane ATPase in iron deficien cy anaemia.