Changes in Blood, Plasma and Red Cell Volume in the Male Rat, as a Function of Age

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Abstract
Using the Fe59-labeled cell dilution technique, the blood, plasma and red cell volume and total circulating hemoglobin have been determined on 259 male rats varying in age from 1 to 340 days. An anemic period exists in the male rat which is maximal between 15 and 20 days of age. This anemia is observed in terms of a decrease in the volume of red blood cells per gram of rat as well as in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration values. However, throughout this anemic period there is a continual increase in total red cell volume and, in fact, the daily gain of red blood cells per gram of rat is greater during this period than at any time thereafter. In spite of the very high rate of erythropoiesis occurring at this time the growth of the body mass as a whole exceeds it and so for a time anemia results.