Decreased Oxygen Need as a Factor in Anemia of Hypophysectomized Animals. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Adult female rats were hypo-physectomized and studied 60 days later; they exhibited the usual post-hypophysec-tomy anemia. The theory that the anemia in the hypophysectomized animal is simply a reflection of a decreased need for oxygen is supported by the finding that oxygen consumption was decreased in these animals and that it remained at a low level even when the peripheral blood picture was restored to normal via transfusion of whole blood. The theory is further supported by the finding that procedures which altered the erythrocyte level caused a similar change in oxygen consumption, and by much evidence indicating that the bone marrow can function normally in the absence of the pituitary gland.