Plasma erythropoietin levels in fetal and newborn rats: response to hypoxia.
Plasma erythropoietin (Ep) activity was detectable in fetal rats near term and in rats less than 2 old. Ep activity was not found 12--48 h after birth. A hypoxic period (0.5 atmospheres for 6 h) increased the plasma Ep level in fetal and newborn rats, and in pregnant animals. After long-term hypoxia (0.5 atmospheres for 8 days) the plasma Ep level was neither increased in fetal rats nor in their mothers, while a compensatory increase in the hematocrit level occurred. It is concluded that hypoxia stimulates Ep production during hepatic erythropoiesis. During long-term hypoxia compensatory mechanisms for tissue oxygenation occur.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006400:Hematocrit; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
D004921:Erythropoietin