EFFECTS OF HEMORRHAGE, HYPOXIA, AND A PREPARATION OF ERYTHROPOIETIN ON THROMBOPOIESIS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (6) , 930-940
Abstract
The effects of hemorrhage, hypoxia or a preparation of erythropoietin on platelet production were investigated by measuring incorporation of selenomethioine-75Se (75SeM) into the platelets of rabbits or mice. Rabbits that were bled daily for 5 days had a significant increase in the platelet count, 48 h after cessation of hemorrhage, that coincided with a 3-fold increase in isotope incorporation into platelets. Mice that were bled daily for 3 days also had singificantly higher platelet counts and a 38% increase in incorporation of isotope into platelets, 3 days after the last hemorrhage. Normal rabbits, injected with plasma from repeatedly bled, anemic and moderately thrombocytopenic rabbits, had a 58% greater maximum incorporation of 75SeM than did control a-imals. Mice exposed to hypoxia for 6 days had a mean platelet count 23% lower than normal controls, but no change in incorporation of 75SeM into platelets. Plasma from hypoxic mice did not stimulate platelet production when injected into normal mice. A preparation of human urinary erythropoietin (15-30 U[units]/mouse or 30 to 120 U/rabbit) significantly increased incorporation of isotope into the platelets of normal mice and rabbits. Hemorrhage, but not hypoxia is apparently associated with increased thrombopoietic activity in plasma. Large doses of preparations of human erythropoietin contained detectalbe thrombopoietic activity.