Erythropoiesis is distinct at each stage of ontogeny

• Published in: Pediatric research Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 170 - 175
• Main Authors: WEINBERG, R. S, HE, L, ALTER, B. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.02.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Erythroid Precursor Cells - cytology; Erythroid Precursor Cells - metabolism; Erythropoiesis - drug effects; Erythropoiesis - physiology; Erythropoietin - pharmacology; Fetal Blood - cytology; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Globins - biosynthesis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infant, Newborn; Kinetics; Middle Aged; Vertebrates: blood, hematopoietic organs, reticuloendothelial system; Human; Erythropoiesis; Cell culture; Newborn; Erythropoietin; Adult; Fetus; In vitro; Gestational age; Age
• ISSN: 0031-3998; 1530-0447
• DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199202000-00016

In vitro erythropoiesis from fetuses, newborn infants, and adults was compared in methyl cellulose cultures. Fetal and newborn blood erythroid colony formation tended to be more sensitive to erythropoietin than adult. The day of maximal colony formation was earlier in fetal than in newborn or adult cultures. The number of colonies/100,000 mononuclear cells on d 13 of culture and on the day of peak growth was highest in fetal, intermediate in newborn, and lowest in adult cultures. Burst forming units-erythroid/mL of blood on culture d 13 and the day of peak growth were similar in fetuses and newborns, and both were significantly greater than in adults. The proportional synthesis of gamma-globin in fetal colonies was 2-fold greater than in newborn colonies, and 6-fold greater than in adult colonies. Thus, fetal, newborn, and adult erythroid progenitor cultures are each unique with regard to erythropoietin sensitivity, growth time course, number of erythroid colonies, and the proportion of gamma-globin synthesis.