Interleukin-6 deficiency increases blood volume without altering body composition in young mice

This study was carried out to measure blood volume in interleukin-6 (IL-6) deficient and the wild type mice and to relate any differences to concomitant changes in body composition. Young animals (8-20 weeks of age) were used in this study. The red blood cell (RBC) and plasma volumes were measured by isotope-dilution using Cr(51)-labeled erythrocytes and I(131)-labeled human albumin injected simultaneously in each animal. Red blood cells and plasma volumes and hence total measured blood volume were significantly larger in the IL-6-deficient than in either male or female wild type mice. There were no differences in either whole body hematocrit or Fcells ratio. There were no differences in water, fat, protein and mineral content between the genotypes of either gender. Thus, IL-6-deficient mice at young age have a significantly greater blood volume than the wild type mice without concomitant changes in body composition. We suggest that the changes in blood volume may reflect a role for IL-6 in the regulation of the peripheral circulation.