DEPRESSED ERYTHROID PROGENITOR-CELL ACTIVITY IN ALUMINUM-OVERLOADED MICE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aluminum (A l) on in vivo erythropoiesis in mice that had received short- and long -term Al overloading. At the end of each treatment period, clonal assa ys of late erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E) stimulated in vitro with erythropoietin were carried out, hematological parameters determined, and histological aluminon staining performed on bone and liver. After 2 weeks of oral ingestion of either Al chloride or Al citrate (10 mu mol per day), poor CFU-E growth was obtained but no differences in hem atocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) values were found when comparing the treated and control groups. CFU-E development, determined after loadin g mice with Al citrate during 22 weeks (10 mu mol/day), proved to be h eavily depressed, and significant reductions in Ht, Hb concentration a nd erythrocyte osmotic fragility were also observed. No Al accumulatio n could be demonstrated in tissue, using histological aluminon stainin g. The results suggest that, even in the absence of signs of anemia, i ngested Al may depress hematopoiesis by affecting red blood cell produ ction and cell destruction.