Nephrectomy Abolishes the Increase in Small Acetylcholinesterase-Positive Immature Rat Megakaryocytes Induced by Acute Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

The effect of unilateral nephrectomy, bilateral nephrectomy, or ureter ligation on the proportion of small acetylcholinesterase-positive (SAChE+) cells was determined in the marrow of rats that were made acutely thrombocytopenic by an injection of platelet specific antiserum (APS). APS caused significant increases (P < 0.025-P < 0.005) in the percentages of SAChE+ cells in the marrow of rats except in those rats that had been subjected to bilateral nephrectomy. Bilaterally nephrectomized rats not only failed to show increased numbers of SAChE+ cells after being made thrombocytopenic but other anephric rats that were not given APS had decreased percentages of SAChE+ cells (P < 0.005) when compared to untreated control rats. This finding indicates the importance of the kidney in the day-to-day production of a thrombocytopoiesis-stimulating factor (TSF) for the maintenance of SAChE+ cells. Unilateral nephrectomy and ligation of the ureters had little effect on altering the percentages of SAChE+ cells, suggesting that surgical stress and uremia do not interfere in the release and action of TSF. The kidney is required for the production of TSF.