Humoral Regulation of Erythropoiesis VI. Mechanism of Action of Erythropoietine in the Irradiated Animal

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Abstract
Erythropoietine produces an increase in reticulocytes in transfused animals within 48-72 hours. In irradiated animals the response is delayed, length of delay being in part dose dependent. A change in reticulocytes is not observed until 96 hours when erythropoietine is given immediately after 200 r; after 400 r the effect is first noted at 6 days. A tentative hypothesis is proposed to explain these results. It is suggested that erythropoietine promotes differentiation of stem cells into erythroid elements and that depopulation of the stem cell compartment stimulates division within that compartment.