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The absence of hepatic xanthine oxidase in the fetus and newborn rat is associated with a very high liver ferritin iron content. Soon after birth hepatic xanthine oxidase activity increases significantly coincident with a marked decrease in liver ferritin iron content. At weaning, hepatic ferritin iron is very low but slowly rises subsequent to intake of a normal diet containing iron.
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Mazur et al. (1965) studied this question.
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