Hemosiderin

Hemosiderin or haemosiderin is an iron-storage complex. It is only found within cells (as opposed to circulating in blood) and appears to be a complex of ferritin, denatured ferritin and other material. mononuclear phagocyte systemThe iron within deposits of hemosiderin is very poorly available to supply iron when needed. Hemosiderin can be identified histologically with "Perls' Prussian-blue" stain. In normal animals, hemosiderin deposits are small and commonly inapparent without special stains. Excessive accumulation of hemosiderin is usually detected within cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) or occasionally within epithelial cells of liver and kidney.