Systemic oxygen transport and erythropoiesis in the mouse.

Removal of 15% of blood volume in the mouse increases erythropoiesis by a factor of 2.2 when measured 12 h after bleeding. Exposure of normal mice to 40% reduced barometric pressure for the same period of time increases erythropoiesis only by a factor of 1.6. The response to hypoxia takes place in the presence of a 40% reduction of oxygen consumption and tissue-venous PO2, changes which are concomitant with a 5-fold increase in plasma erythropoietin activity. The larger response in anemic animals on the other hand occurs without any detectable change in these parameters. These results cast serious doubts about the interpretation of the quantitative homeostatic control of erythropoiesis based solely on the action of erythropoietin.