This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Okunewick, J. P. Articles by Erhard, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Okunewick, J. P. Articles by Erhard, P.

Accelerated Clearance of Exogenously Administered Erythropoietin by Mice with Rauscher Viral Leukemia¹

Cellular and Radiation Biology Laboratories, Clinical Radiation Therapy Research Center, Division of Radiology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212

Both the endogenous plasma erythropoietin levels and the rate of plasma clearance of injected erythropoietin have been investigated in SJL/J mice that had been rendered leukemic by the injection of Rauscher virus. The results show an elevated level of endogenous erythropoietin coupled with an accelerated rate of erythropoietin clearance. These results are inconsistent with the hypothesis previously suggested by other workers that erythropoietin production is impaired by Rauscher leukemia. As an alternative, it has been proposed that as a result of the leukemia both erythropoietin production and clearance are accelerated to such a degree that very little reserve production capacity remains to allow for additional hormone synthesis in response to the stimuli of extreme anemia or bleeding.

¹ These studies were supported in part by NIH-National Cancer Institute Grant 1P02 Ca 10438-05, and by Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT (11-1)-3097.

Received 7/27/73. Accepted 1/ 7/74.