• 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (4) , 249-254
Abstract
Most erythropoietin (Ep) preparations contain non-erythropoietin contaminants. The use of such hormone concentrates raises important questions regarding interpretations of results derived from in vivo and especially from in vitro studies. By sterilizing various Ep preparations with Nalgene, Millipore or Selas silver filtration, or even after conventional membrane dialysis, variable responses were noted when the Ep was assayed with mouse bone marrow cells in vitro (i.e., by stimulating the production of erythroid colonies from CFU-e [erythroid colony-forming unit] and BFU-e [erythropoietic burst forming cell] and in vivo (i.e., by using the exhypoxic, polycythemic mouse bioassay for Ep). The utility and limitations of such preparative procedures are discussed.