THE PROPORTION OF RETICULOCYTES IN THE BLOOD OF ALBINO RATS

Abstract

The blood of normal albino rats at birth shows a remarkably high proportion of reticulocytes (99%). This value decreases rapidly until at the weaning age (21 days) only 25% of the erythrocytes exhibit the vital staining material. Thereafter, a more gradual decrease occurs until at about 70 days of age adult values usually varying between 1 and 3% are reached. Similar changes occur in the reticulocyte count of rats maintained on an adequate synthetic ration from 37 to 205 days of age.