Blood, 1964, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 146-153.
© 1964 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Protein Metabolism and Erythropoiesis. II. Erythropoietin
Formation and Erythroid Responsiveness in
Protein-deprived Rats
KURT R. REISSMANN 1,
Mary Ruth Dietrich 1, and
Myrle Jean Kennedy 1
1 Department of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City,
Kan.
(1) Rats on a normal and non-protein diet were hypertransfused to suppress their endogenous erythropoietin formation. Injection of erythropoietin
elicited nearly identical increases in radioiron incorporation in the two dietary
groups.
(2) Normal and protein-starved rats were exposed to lowered atmospheric
pressure. At each level of hypoxia the erythropoietin titer in the plasma of
protein-starved rats were significantly lower than those in normal diet groups.
(3) Re-proteinization resulted in significant increases in erythropoietin level.
(4) It is concluded that protein deficiency does not affect cytoplasmic protein synthesis in erythroid precursors directly, and the depression of erythropoiesis is attributed to a diminished formation of erythropoietin.
Submitted on June 28, 1963
Accepted on August 26, 1963
