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Plasma erythropoietin in newborn lambs
O V Sjaastad1, A K Egeli, A K Blom
1Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Nutrition, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo.
Abstract:
In the present study early postnatal changes in erythropoietin (Epo) level and hemoglobin concentration in 8 lambs were examined. Plasma Epo was estimated by a monoclonal enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA), developed for human Epo. In all the lambs, except one, Epo was low, or undetectable, immediately after birth. Within 6-12 h after birth, a marked increase in plasma Epo was found in 4 of the lambs. Within 3-7 days after birth, Epo was back to low levels. In the lamb with high Epo levels at birth, drastic decreases were observed during the next 6 h. There was no obvious correlation between the hemoglobin concentrations and the changes in plasma Epo.
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Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
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