HEMATOLOGICAL, METABOLIC AND RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISITICS OF ERYTHROCYTES IN RECOMBINANT HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN-ADMINISTERED RAT I. Hematological and Metabolic Properties

HEMATOLOGICAL, METABOLIC AND RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISITICS OF ERYTHROCYTES IN RECOMBINANT HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN-ADMINISTERED RAT I. Hematological and Metabolic Properties Nobuji Maeda Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ehime University Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO; 180 or 1800 IU/kg) was intravenously administered daily to 6 weeks-old rats for 1 or 2 weeks, and hematological and metabolic properties of the erythrocytes were examined. (1) A considerable polycythemia with reticulocytosis was induced in a dose-dependent manner accompanying increase in MCV and decrease in MCHC. The erythrocytes were inhomogeneous in their density, and the density distribution was shifted towards low specific gravity. Probably, young erythrocytes were increased in the circulation by rhEPO administration. (2) Slight augmentation of intracellular ATP and GTP contents was detected, but 2, 3-DPG content was not altered. (3) Upon the long-term administration of rhEPO, intracellular hemoglobin content was decreased, and the reticulocytosis was reduced.