title: Neonatal erythropoiesis. II. Bone marrow and splenic erythropoietic activity: data suggest erythropoietin transfer via maternal milk.
abstract: In this study we examined erythropoiesis in the bone marrow and spleen of 9 to 12-day-old neonatal rats suckled by bleeding-induced anemic mothers. Quantitative evaluations of the spleen revealed a significant decrease in total numbers of nucleated RBC/mg spleen in 11-day-old pups nursed by the anemic mother which returned to control values by day 12. A significant reduction in total numbers of nucleated RBC/mg marrow was seen in both 11 and 12-day-old pups of anemic mothers when compared to control values. These results suggest that: 1. Ep is transmitted to suckling rats via the maternal milk; 2. Ep in the neonate exerts its influence predominantly at the level of the differentiated erythroid compartment probably by causing a shortening of the mean transit time of the proliferating erythroblast compartment and/or by decrease in the maturation time of the nonproliferating orthochromatic and reticulocyte compartments; 3. the regulation of erythropoiesis in the neonate differs from that in the adult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland 21239.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LoBue
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin