Abstract
Summary
Posterior hypothalamic stimulation in rabbits was found to produce a significant increase in blood reticulocytes as well as a slight increase in hematocrit. The increase in reticulocytes and hematocrit following hypothalamic stimulation were not seen during the control or sham-operated periods. Atropine was found to block the reticulocyte response to hypothalamic stimulation.
During 24 hr continuous posterior hypothalamic stimulation vasoconstriction and a reduced number of vessels with blood flow in the bone marrow microvasculature were seen during the first hour of stimulation, while by 24 hr vasodilatation and an increase in the number of vessels with blood flow was observed. These changes in the bone marrow circulation were associated with a significant increase in blood reticulocytes during hypothalamic stimulation. These studies suggest the existence of a neurovascular mechanism for the rapid release of stored reticulocytes from marrow sinusoids of the bone marrow.
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