Inhibition of Bone Marrow Erythroid Colony-Forming Cells (CFU-E) by Serum from Chronic Anemic Uremic Rabbits

Abstract

Summary The 5/6th nephrectomized uremic rabbit was demonstrated to develop a marked anemia. Erythropoietic activity in the sera of these chronically uremic anemic rabbits was not detectable. A decrease in the number of erythroid colony-forming cells (CFU-E) was found in chronically anemic uremic rabbit bone marrows and a significant inhibitory effect of the uremic serum on the erythroid colony-forming unit in normal rabbit bone marrow cultures was also seen in the 5/6th nephrectomized rabbit after 35 days. These findings support the hypothesis that an inhibitor of the primary target cell for erythropoietin, the CFU-E, plays an important role in the anemia of chronic renal failure. We acknowledge with thanks the excellent technical assistance of Mr. Jesse Brookins, Mr. Rene Stiaes, and Ms. Patricia Dargon. Human urinary erythropoietin was supplied by the Department of Physiology, University of the Northeast, Corrientes, Argentina. This material was further processed and assayed by the Hematology Research Laboratories, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, under Research Grant HE-10880 (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute).