Abstract
Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of high molecular weight iron polysaccharides (Myofer 100® and Pigdex 100®) in therapeutic doses were given to pigs. These are taken up in macrophages between 6 and 24 hours following injection. If the material is finely divided, there occurs extracellularly and also in every case intracellularly a quick transformation from trivalent iron hydroxide to bivalent iron compounds; this process is essentially complete two days following injection. The high molecular weight polysaccharide is split off intracellularly from the iron components and is subject to its own chemical changes in the body. Accompanying this, in connection with the intracellular deposition of iron, there occurs the formation of an organic residual agent which is composed of mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins and a matrix of protein and lipid.