Ferrokinetics and erythropoiesis in mice after long-term inhalation of benzene.

Ferrokinetics and erythropoiesis were examined in mice exposed for 6 or 7 weeks to an airborne concentration of 300 ppm of benzene, for 6 h per day, and 5 days per week. Ferrokinetic indicators showed only a slightly enhanced production of haeme and erythrocytes in the spleen (133% +/- 18% and 122% +/- 17%, respectively). Production did not change in the femoral marrow; a decline of CFU-C, BFU-E and especially CFU-E (34% +/- 8%) took place there and a shift of cellularity into less mature developmental classes in the erythroblast compartment, without this compartment as a whole being damaged. The erythrocytes produced have an enhanced MCV (109% +/- 0%) and MCH (109% +/- 1%) with an unchanged MCHC; their concentration in blood sank to 87% +/- 1%. The absolute reticulocyte count rose to 160% +/- 16%. 59Fe incorporation into the liver declined far below the level attributable to decreased accessibility of the tracer (84% +/- 4%). A shortening of the life span of late erythroblasts and circulating erythrocytes was deduced from these findings and methodological problems related to some of the seemingly controversial findings are discussed.