Erythropoietin & erythroid progenitors in rats exposed to chronic hypoxia.

In order to better understand the mechanisms affecting erythropoietin (Epo) synthesis and red cell mass increase under chronic hypoxia, we examined Epo production and erythroid progenitors (CFU-E) in rats exposed to normobaric hypoxia for four weeks. Hypoxia induced the rise of hematocrit (Htc), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and the red blood cell (RBC) number with a plateau in hematocrit values after two weeks. After 24 h of hypoxia, Epo levels were increased 20 fold, followed by a significant decrease. After the first week of hypoxia, the values were still higher than in the controls, but after two weeks Epo levels did not differ significantly from the normal values. The fall of Epo levels coincided with the plateau values of hematocrit. The changes in the CFU-E number followed the changes in Epo concentration: a two fold increase after 24 h of hypoxia; a further increase during the next two weeks reaching a peak on day 14, and then a progressive decrease at the time when Epo concentration was at a normal level. Although decreased, but still higher than normal, the CFU-E number during the last two weeks of hypoxia could be necessary for the maintenance of an achieved steady state under persistent hypoxic conditions with normal Epo concentration sufficient to maintain the existing rate of erythropoiesis.