Abstract
Summary
Daily subcutaneous injections of phenylhydrazine and related compounds resulted in the induction of an anemia in splenectomized and nonsplenectomized rats. The severity of the anemia induced depended on the nature of the ligand or the functional group on the drug. Dihydroxymaleic acid, a potent free radical generator, was ineffective at inducing any anemia. The animals that had not been splenectomized became anemic more rapidly than the splenectomized rats. This effect was attributed to the sequestering of damaged red blood cells by the spleen. The rats with spleens gradually recovered from anemia despite continual daily injections of the test compounds. During this recovery phase the spleen became enlarged. Splenectomized animals did not recover from the anemia until the daily injections were terminated.
The expert technical assistance of Steve Wheeler and Gerry Oshima was appreciated. This work was supported in part by NIH Grants AM 14982 and GM 17702.
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