Erythropoetin is the main regulator of erythrocyte production.
It is produced in the kidney as a result of hypoxia. Recent research has shown that only an inactive enzymatic precursor called erythrogenin or REF (renal erythrocytopoietic factor) is synthesized in the kidney. It releases or activates a a-gluco-proteid erythropoietin, most likely originating from the liver. There is proportional ratio between the degree of hypoxia or anemia and increasing titer of erythropoietin in plasma and urine.
Figure 2: Influence of oxygen transport, blood volume, production, and effects of erythropoietin and endocrynic system on erythrocytopoiesis
PSC = pluripotential stem cell
PrNB = pronormoblast
BNB = basophilic normoblast
PNB = polichromatophilic normoblast
ANB = acidophilic normoblast
REF = Renal Erythropoietic Factor |
