Studies of the metabolism of asialotransferrins: nonspecific changes in the metabolic behaviour of human asialotransferrin in avians

In a previous study (Regoeczi, E. & Hatton, M.W.C. (1976) Can J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 54, 27-34) it was shown that the chicken (Gallus domesticus) does not possess a hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor. In the present study the same conclusion is drawn for the duck (Anas platyrhynchos). For this reason these avian species were used to assess those changes in the distribution and catabolism of human asialotransferrin which takes place in the absence of the asialoglycoprotein receptor of the liver.