ABSTRACT
There is a genetic difference in rat hemoglobin (Hb) beta-chain structure, with alternate alleles, A and B, at a single locus. This study was designed to find out whether marrow sensitivity due to gamma exposure and experimentally induced anemia in age-matched adult rats is entirely strain specific or is a combination of both strain and Hb genotype. Eight strains of inbred and outbred rats comprising AA and BB types were examined. The data indicate that there is a relationship between marrow sensitivity and Hb genotypes in response to erythropoietic stress caused by three techniques.
Subject(s)
Anemia/genetics , Hemoglobins/genetics , Stress, Physiological/genetics , Alleles , Anemia/chemically induced , Animals , Bone Marrow/radiation effects , Erythropoiesis/genetics , Erythropoiesis/radiation effects , Gamma Rays , Hemorrhage , Phenylhydrazines/pharmacology , Radiation Tolerance/genetics , Rats , Species Specificity , Stress, Physiological/chemically inducedABSTRACT
A study was carried out to determine whether recombinant human erythropoietin can induce newborn-like hemoglobin synthesis in adult rats. A fixed dose of recombinant erythropoietin was administered each time intravenously in each rat for altogether 5 weeks. Blood samples drawn at 7-day intervals were analyzed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Hematological parameters like red blood cell counts, hematocrit values and reticulocyte counts were evaluated and compared. A significant changing pattern for certain hemoglobin components in red cells of erythropoietin-treated rats was measured compared to their baseline values. However, aspirin (a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor) intake along with recombinant erythropoietin administration totally abolished the reversion of hemoglobin proportions toward newborn values, but not the increase in hemoglobin synthesis. These data reveal that concurrent prostaglandin synthesis is needed for reversing hemoglobin proportions in adult rats, but not for hemoglobin synthesis per se.
