Effects of Hypoxia on Thrombocytopoiesis and Thrombopoietin Production of Mice 1

Abstract

Summary

Mice were placed in hypoxia chambers for various lengths of time prior to and after injection of platelet specific antiserum to determine the cause of thrombocytopenia in hypoxic mice. The results indicate that hypoxia decreased platelet production by action on a precursor cell or a primitive population of megakaryocytes without altering the ability of mice to produce thrombo-poietin. Hypoxia may cause thrombocytopenia by stem-cell competition between the erythrocytic and megakaryocytic cell lines.