Hematopoiesis of the kissing gourami (Helostoma temmincki). Effects of starvation, bleeding, and plasma-stimulating factors on its erythropoiesis

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Abstract
Starvation and bleeding of the kissing gourami were found to induce a pronounced anemia. After 9 days of starvation there was a 45% decrease in the numbers of circulating erythrocytes, and within 24 h of bleeding a fish (1% of the body weight) there was a 39% decrease in the red cell count, which elicited a reticulocytosis and leukocytosis. The blood volumes remained unchanged in the starved or bled fish. When the 9-day-starved fish was used to evaluate the hematopoietic-stimulating capacity of different substances, plasma from normal fish decreased erythropoietic activity, while plasma from fish made anemic by bleeding or 1 International Reference Preparation unit of human urinary erythropoietin evoked erythropoietic and leukocytopoietic activities.The estimated minimal red cell life-span in this fish was found to be about 13 days. However, there was some evidence for the existence of a population of long-lived erythrocytes. The 59Fe incorporation value per milligram of organ was highest in the spleen, with kidney and liver showing less activity.These studies not only provide information for the understanding of the regulatory mechanism(s) involved in blood cell production in the fish, but also present evidence of the existence in fish of intrinsic hemopoietic regulatory factors, possibly hormonal in nature.

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