To understand the disturbances in protein synthesis observed during idiopathic hemochromatosis, various experimental models may be used. The aim of this research was to review the principal models employed and to demonstrate the value of hepatic tissue culture techniques in each. This method has already made it possible to explain several mechanisms involving the control of proteins in iron metabolism such as transferrin and ferritin. Tissue culture techniques of human hepatocytes should make it possible to elucidate the nature of the basic metabolic disorder in this disease responsible for the iron overload in the near future.