Homeostatic Regulatory Mechanisms of Hematopoiesis

Abstract

Theoretic mechamisms of control of production and specific studies describing regulatory factors of homeostatic regulation of blood cells was reviewed. Knowledge of the production, distribution, kinetics and function of erythrocytes and neutrophils justifies the construction of working, testable hypotheses concerning the mechanism of their homeostatic regulation. Such hypotheses probably do not apply to platelets, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils. A multitude of factors may possibly be specific regulating substances for various blood cells. Convincing evidence (with the exception of erythropoietin) that the described factor is a physiologic regulator of cell production is lacking. Changes in concentration of blood cells as an assay for changes in rates of cell production are discussed.