Abstract: | 1. Cells isolated from a lactating rabbit mammary gland have been investigated for transferrin-iron receptors. The existence of these structures has been demonstrated through a specific binding with a competitor non-labelled rabbit transferrin. 2. The interaction of iron-receptor complex depends on the concentration of 59Fe]transferrin, the number of cells and the time. 3. Scatchard's plot of data indicates two classes of receptor sites: one with a binding capacity 6.48 x 10(-9) g Fe per cell and affinity constant 2.48 x 10(10) M-1 and another with 1.06 x 10(-8) g Fe per cell and 4.66 x 10(11) M-1 respectively. 4. The probable mechanism of the iron transport from blood to milk through the lactating cell was discussed. |