title: Stimulation of fetal hemoglobin synthesis in baboons by hemolysis and hypoxia.
abstract: Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) levels in the peripheral blood of baboons (Papio cynocephalus) increased from an average value of 0.78% to 18.1% during the recovery phase from phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia. A similar increase was observed in animals exposed to hypobaric hypoxia. Large individual variations in the maximal Hb F levels were observed which could not be correlated with the ages of the animals. Reinduction of hemolysis in two fully recovered animals resulted in Hb F levels that were of similar magnitude as in the preceding episode, suggesting the possibility of genetically determined individual variations in the rate of Hb F synthesis under the same conditions of erythropoietic stimulation. Reticulocytes from the animals subjected to hemolysis of hypobaric hypoxia synthesized similar absolute quantities of Hb F in vitro. The results of the present studies indicate that the physiological switch from the synthesis of Hb F to that of Hb A during ontogeny can be reversed in adult nonhuman primates by conditions of erythropoietic stress known to be associated with high erythropoietin levels. These findings open the possibility that Hb F synthesis in adult humans may be therapeutically modulated in individuals who might benefit from increased levels of Hb F, such as patients with sickle cell anemia.
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000882:Haplorhini; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D010215:Papio / Q000097:blood*; D010659:Phenylhydrazines
chemical_list: D010659:Phenylhydrazines; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin