PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSE TO EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED ANEMIA IN RATS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

To induce anemia experimentally in rats to provide a hematocrit of 30 to 35% and provide data about the physiologic response to anemia durin g induction and after it is established, two methods were selected: th e application of repetitive doses of phenylhydrazine and bleeding. Blo od sample collection was carried out at various times, and hematologic profiles and osmotic resistance were evaluated, The morphologic featu res of cells and distinct organs also were examined, Results indicated similar decrease of hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration for the t wo experimental groups, although the reticulocyte response was higher in rats treated with phenylhydrazine, where the presence of young eryt hrocyte populations was linked to increases in osmotic resistance and glucose utilization, 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate was induced only during th e recovery phase of the study and corresponded to a gradual response t o hypoxia. Histologically, marked erythroid hyperplasia was found in t he bone marrow, and extramedullary hematopoiesis was seen in the splee n and liver.