Plasma Hematin-Binding and Clearance in the Rhesus Monkey

Abstract

SummaryIn vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that protein-binding of hematin in rhesus monkey plasma was similar to that in human plasma. After intravenous injection of hematin in monkeys, the pigment was bound primarily by albumin and β-globulin, and possibly to some extent also by α-globulin. The disappearance of the heme-protein complexes from the plasma was traced, and studies with Fe59-hematin implicated the liver as the primary site of removal of injected hematin. Depletion of the heme-binding globulin was observed after hematin injection. The value of the monkey as an experimental model for studies of hematin-binding and the possible implications for human hemolytic disease are discussed.