Response of Rats of Various Ages to Erythropoietin.

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Abstract
An anemic period occurs in young rats shortly after birth, reaching its greates severity at 15 to 20 days of age. Evidence has been presented that indicates that erythropoiesis is proceeding at a rapid rate at this age but that the rate of body growth is more rapid so that an anemia results. At this young age, rats are unable to respond erythropoietically to an hypoxic stimulus. In this study, erythropoietin of human urinary origin was administered to groups of rats of various ages for 10 days after which the total circulating red cell volumes were measured by the labeled erythrocyte dilution method. Young rats in the period of neonatal anemia did not respond to erythropoietin administration, whereas all older rats did. The rat most sensitive to erythropoietin administration was the oldest animal studied. No difference was observed in young rats following erythropoietin administration using the Fe59 red cell uptake assay. However, when young rats were transfused with normal red cells the red cell uptake of Fe59 was reduced. Such rats responded when given erythropoietin.

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