Molecular evidence for increased hematopoietic proliferation in the spleen of the b/b laboratory rat

Alpha- and beta-globins of the anemic Belgrade laboratory rat. I. Status of alpha- and beta-globins in bone marrow and spleen

In this study we have demonstrated that the bone marrow of the anemic Belgrade laboratory (b/b) rat, as the primary site of erythropoiesis, has a decreased globin polypeptide synthesis in total protein cell extracts. Therefore, it is the source of red blood cells containing decreased amounts of globin mRNAs and polypeptides. In spite of the fact that the b/b rat shows a splenomegaly, the spleen is not capable of compensating for the anemic state. Spleen erythroid cells are defective in differentiation and contain a decreased share of globin polypeptides in total protein cell extracts compared to the control. Spleen cells are also characterized by a drastic imbalance of alpha- to beta-globin resulting in the beta-globin chains surplus.